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The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is optimistic the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will help the private sector to “create opportunities for their investment.”

Speaking at a High Level African Roundtable on Mobilizing Support and Accelerating Implementation of the SDGs, Dr Bawumia stressed it is imperative for countries to work towards achieving the Goals in a bid to eradicate poverty.

According to him, the private sector stands to gain more because it will be the vehicle for development.

“First and foremost, it is important to note that the SDGs come with the objective to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. The SDGs are also about how to make development environmentally sustainable, economically sustainable, as well as socially sustainable. Private businesses are also part of the overall ecosystem of the world economy and will therefore benefit if the SDGs are achieved,” Dr. Bawumia told the gathering.

He added: “Second, private businesses should see the SDGs as helping create opportunities for their investments. Meeting the SDGs requires multi-million dollars investments in new and innovative projects. Because of the continual decline of global growth and reduced overseas development assistance, the private sector will be a key driver to support infrastructure and other development projects.

“The World Bank Group is taking a similar approach and recently launched a new initiative that aims to raise trillions in development financing, including through partnerships with the private sector. Thus, with the SDGs, investments expected to go into the private sector will be huge.”

“The Business and Sustainable Development Commission which is a group of CEOs and civic leaders that were convened by the UN recently put out a report identifying twelve trillion dollars of opportunities that can be created through achieving the SDGs.

That is an extraordinary amount of money, an extraordinary amount of opportunity for businesses around the world. This highlights clearly what the opportunities for the private sector as well as, the SDGs are concerned,” he stated.