Pasay City, Philippines – A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines was signed by PEZA Director General Tereso Panga and UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carriè in PEZA Corporate Headquarters on 14 November.

The MOU initiates the collaboration between PEZA and UNDP Philippines in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with PEZA, along with its registered business enterprises, and the private sector at large. 

PEZA Director General Panga noted that through the partnership, PEZA “aims to increase awareness, knowledge, capacities, and develop uptake for action on the SDGs for PEZA registered business enterprises and other stakeholders and further promote programs related to SDG monitoring and reporting.”

He further added that: “the partnership with UNDP signifies a united commitment to support the private sector in the Philippines and empower it to be a leader in sustainable development. By creating an enabling environment and developing robust networks, we can attract and channel investments toward transformational changes in health, climate resilience, environmental protection, education, gender equality, and poverty eradication."

In 2015, the UN member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the aim of creating a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world by 2030. The private sector plays a vital role in the path towards transformational change because sustainable development can only be achieved through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

In his message, UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Carriè highlighted that the UNDP: “strongly believes that the private sector plays a pivotal role in accelerating progress towards the SDGs in the Philippines. The business case for the SDGs is well-established and compelling. We see the SDGs unlocking new opportunities and driving significant efficiency gains through innovation. Embracing the SDGs is not only the path to economic growth but also to long-term business sustainability.”

Globally, UNDP’s strategy for private sector engagement is to make markets work for the SDGs by assisting countries in aligning private sector activities and investments with the 2030 Agenda. The vision is to make the SDG framework as the business sector's guiding principle for their strategies and operations.

The MoU will strengthen PEZA and UNDP’s collaboration in key areas. First, collaborating on SDG initiatives, including building awareness, increasing knowledge, and developing uptake for action on the SDGs. Second, they will also co-design initiatives that will promote sustainable development in the ecozones, such as but not limited to digitalization productions and value chain analysis that will promote circularity and sustainability of goods and services. Lastly, PEZA and UNDP will also support promotion of programs on SDG monitoring and reporting, especially to PEZA registered business enterprises. [END]