Mauritian CEOs Take "Forward Faster" Leap!

The CEO Forum, organized by the UN Global Compact Network Mauritius & Indian Ocean and launched in Port-Louis on Tuesday, 12th December, stands as a pivotal platform for advancing the UN Global Compact Forward Faster movement in the pursuit of the SDGs. This collaborative initiative, involving leading businesses in the region, aims to elevate ambitions and foster partnerships with the government and various stakeholders.

The launch event in Port-Louis featured prominent figures such as Arnaud Lagesse of IBL Together, Vidia Mooneegan of Ceridian Mauritius, Bussier Pamela of Jubilee Allianz Mauritius, and Johan Pilot of ENL Property. Participants and Board members of the UN Global Compact Network Mauritius & Indian Ocean, along with Luvna Arnassalon-Seerungen, the Board Chair,  Lisa Simrique Singh, the UN Resident Coordinator, and Dr Herve Lado, UN Global Compact Africa Head, were also actively involved.

The CEO Forum serves as the foundation for an intensified engagement with CEOs from leading businesses in the Indian Ocean region, propelling efforts to move Forward Faster on sustainability and champion the SDGs in collaboration with partners. The launch event witnessed dynamic discussions, setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead in partnership with the United Nations Global Compact in the region.

During the launch, there were constructive exchanges with key players and supporting companies in sustainability in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean. Additionally, interactions took place with major groups shaping the economies of Mauritius, Madagascar, and the region.

Following the CEO Forum launch, discussions unfolded to raise private sector ambitions in the region and connect with the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC). Businesses exhibited strong receptivity to the Forward Faster campaign, designed to bolster commitments to the SDGs by 2030 in areas with significant impacts on the 17 SDGs including:

- Ensuring a living wage for employees

- Safeguarding drinking water supplies

- Promoting gender equality

- Advancing climate action

- Mobilizing more corporate finance for the SDGs.

The mission concluded with a strategic meeting of the Board, setting ambitious objectives for the development of the Network in 2024. Promising partnerships (SDG17) are anticipated in 2024, with the support of the United Nations System Resident Coordinator Offices in Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar.