{"id":34129,"date":"2017-11-02T20:50:04","date_gmt":"2017-11-02T20:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=34129"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:48:57","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:48:57","slug":"un-forum-closes-in-bahrain-with-the-spotlight-on-entrepreneurs-for-sustainable-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2017\/11\/un-forum-closes-in-bahrain-with-the-spotlight-on-entrepreneurs-for-sustainable-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ forum closes in Bahrain with the spotlight on entrepreneurs for sustainable development"},"content":{"rendered":"

A United Nations forum on sustainable development concluded today in Bahrain with a strong call for the integration of entrepreneurship and innovation in all economic and social dimensions as key strategies to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In particular, the World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum (WEIF) 2017 -\u2013 having over 60 per cent of participants women \u2013 underscored the importance of the role of female entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recommend for the active involvement of women in all sectors related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through entrepreneurship and innovation,\u201d read the World Forum’s outcome declaration \/ communique.<\/p>\n

The World Forum also called upon governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, media and international organizations to facilitate the work of entrepreneurs and innovators to ensure sustainable development.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a press conference where the outcome \u2013 \u201cManama Declaration\u201d \u2013 was unveiled, Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k, the President of the General Assembly, also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation for the\u00a02030 Agenda<\/a>\u00a0for Sustainable Development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must offer better incentives to induce entrepreneurs and innovators to invest in\u00a0SDGs<\/a>\u00a0

[to] unleash and foster a dynamic private sector and ensure competitiveness,\u201d he said, noting, in particular, the role of small and medium sized-enterprises, which often account for the majority of business activities at the national level.<\/p>\n

Helping businesses get off the ground and sustaining them through their initial phases helps generate employment, income and economic growthPresident of General Assembly Miroslav Laj\u010d\u00e1k<\/small><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cSupporting [these enterprises] is a proven strategy to build a robust economy from the ground up [and] helping businesses get off the ground and sustaining them through their initial phases helps generate employment, income and economic growth,\u201d added Mr. Laj\u010d\u00e1k.<\/p>\n

Further in his remarks, the President of the General Assembly highlighted the importance of the means of implementation for sustainable development, and called innovative partnerships between all sectors.<\/p>\n

In that context, Mr. Laj\u010d\u00e1k noted that, in mid-2018, he will be convening a high-level event on sustainable development financing to foster discussions among Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States and other stakeholders on the important subject.<\/p>\n

Organized under the overarching theme of\u00a0achieving the SDGs through promoting entrepreneurship and innovation<\/em><\/a>, the World Forum saw participation of more than 1,000 government officials, entrepreneurs, representatives of international organizations, civil society and the academia from over 90 countries.<\/p>\n\n\t\t