The British Egyptian Business Association (BEBA) organised on Sunday a breakfast briefing on Digital Enablement to accelerate the SDGs: Private Sector’s Role.
Five highly prominent speakers took part in the briefing, namely: British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley, Mohamed Abdallah, CEO of Vodafone Egypt; Rawhi Afaghani, Deputy Resident Representative A.I. at UNDP; Nada El Agizy, Director of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department at the League of Arab States; and Maged Ezzeldeen, Country Senior Partner and Deals Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Ayman Essam, External Affairs and Legal Director at Vodafone Egypt, had moderated the panel discussion.
BEBA’s 2024 Annual Business Mission to UK
Ahead of the panel discussion, Nadia M. Lamloum, CEO of BEBA, made an announcement about BEBA’s plan to organise its Annual Business Mission to the UK on February 14 – 16, 2024. The theme of the mission is “Sustainable Growth in Egypt: Pathways to Fostering Sustainability and Resilience”, with the mission to explore new opportunities for investment in Egypt across sectors of agritech, renewable energy, finance, logistics, and water desalination.
In his opening remarks, Khaled Nosseir, BEBA Chairman, welcomed the esteemed guests, notably Hossam Badrawi, a well-known physician, political figure, and President of the Badrawi Foundation for Education and Development; and Yehia Zaki, former Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE).
Vodafone Egypt’s launch of its sustainability report
The Briefing took place in conjunction with Vodafone Egypt’s launch of its sustainability report. Vodafone Egypt is the first telecom operator to report on its sustainability efforts following the ESG approach metrics, on a voluntarily basis. Ayman Essam said Vodafone Egypt’s report has been issued digitally for two consecutive years. Such a milestone adds to the shift to a digital interactive format, as part of the company’s endeavours to raise awareness, both internally and externally about sustainability, Essam noted.
Sustainable ceasefire in Gaza
British Ambassador to Egypt, Gareth Bayley started the talk on the situation in Gaza, saying that the value of every civilian life is recognised.
“We want this to end right now.” Bayley said, calling for a “sustainable ceasefire.”
Egypt-UK sustainable relationship
Regarding the sustainability of the relationship between Egypt and the UK, the ambassador expressed his optimism about the UK’s investments in Egypt, saying “our trade is on the rise.”
“It’s crucial to recognise the UK’s continued investment in Egypt. As the largest foreign direct investor, the UK is committed to supporting Egypt’s policy inflection point and fostering a sustainable trajectory.”
He stated that Arabian countries are performing well in the area of green hydrogen compared to Asia. Additionally, when the comparison is made with Europe, the Arab countries hold a distinct advantage.
Vodafone Egypt’s milestones
Meanwhile, Mohamed Abdallah, CEO of Vodafone Egypt, said the company views itself as a benchmark with the objective of facilitating communication infrastructure for the past 25 years, serving 45 million customers.
“Vodafone’s purpose is ingrained in enabling digitisation in Egypt, serving 45 million customers. Our sustainability commitment extends from inclusive workplaces to green practices, striving for net zero by 2030.” Abdallah noted.
He said Vodafone Egypt has collaborated with the Egyptian government on numerous solutions; enhancing healthcare services, ensuring environmental sustainability by eliminating plastic use, utilising clean energy, and aiming for net-zero emissions by 2030, and prioritising the welfare of Egyptian women.
Abdallah further said that the company fosters an inclusive environment, and during times of global tragedy, it has been offering services to ensure that individuals can stay connected with their loved ones.
Private sector’s role in achieving SDG 17
For her part, Nada El Agizy said the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) revolves around five key areas: people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.
“We talk about poverty, food, education, women, and the environment,” she said.
El Agizy explained the only agenda within the SDGs that encapsulates all these elements is SDG 17, which focuses on partnerships. This goal encompasses all partners, stakeholders, and the private sector.
She further said that governments believe that the private sector plays a crucial role in accomplishing the objectives of the SDGs.
“Private sector engagement in sustainability reporting builds trust and is vital for achieving SDGs. Vodafone’s report reflects transparency, setting a benchmark for others to follow. The private sector is crucial for sustainable development.” El Agizy added.
She praised Vodafone Egypt for its ESG report, stating that it is a significant move that demonstrates the company’s transparency. She stressed the need for all companies to follow this example because trust is paramount, followed by the sharing of knowledge, success stories, and even failures and challenges.
El Agizy also emphasised the importance of intergovernmental partnerships for investment.
Without the involvement of the private sector, including youth and civil organisations, sustainability cannot be achieved, the League of Arab States official said.
She also referred to the Ma’an (All Together) initiative, which convenes the public sector, private sector, and banks in a forum to discuss and address the various challenges faced in the region.
UNDP’s role
Moreover, Rawhi Afaghani, said the UN’s most important promise is to leave no one behind and to help all countries. Afaghani expressed that the private sector has the potential to aid the government by funding digital infrastructure.
He also suggested blended finance as a strategy where the government supports the private sector.
He further referred that the UN maintains a strong relationship with Egypt’s Ministry of Communication.
“Egypt is a good example, but not all countries are at the same level. The role of UNDP and UN support is crucial in working with governments to bridge these gaps and ensure that incentives and regulations align for the private sector to invest in digitalisation.” Afaghani said.
Importance of GRI reporting
Furthermore, Maged Ezzeldeen, referred to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as an autonomous international standards body that assists businesses, governments, and other entities in comprehending and conveying their effects on matters like climate change, human rights, and corruption.
Ezzeldeen stated that technology and industrialisation serve as platforms and that technology simplifies processes.
He mentioned that the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has issued government bonds focused on sustainable finance. He also discussed the transition of companies in the Middle East, demonstrating that it’s possible to remain profitable without causing environmental harm.
