The Action event of 17 May 2017 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), innovation and connectivity was convened by the President of the General Assembly as part of the global push to mobilize decision makers from governments and private sector leaders to accelerate efforts for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. H.E. Mr Péter Sziijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade has contributed to the interactive dialogue among stakeholders at the panel discussing the opportunities and eventual risks of the digital economy, pointing out Hungary’s ambition to take the lead in regional innovation development.
The SDG Action event took place back-to-back with the UN’s annual Science, Technology and Innovation Forum under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), discussing how these areas can be harnessed for achieving sustainable development. The Forum and the Action event facilitated a lively exchange of views among Member States, private sector, the scientific community, United Nations entities, civil society and other stakeholders.
On 17 May, the ECOSOC Chamber got transferred into an innovative lab, with a non-conventional stage setup, triggering out-of-the box thinking by participants on how to combine the response to the global challenges of poverty eradication and climate change linked to the business rational of inclusive growth and sustainable development by making investments both profitable and ecologically viable.
The event’s first panel tackled how the exponential innovation trends can catalyze economic and social development, and how the current linear institutions, policies and mindsets should be adapted to the fast pace of change. The second panel addressed the potential of connectivity in problem-solving, while the third one demonstrated the latest findings in technology and telecommunication.
H.E. Mr. Péter Sziijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade intervened at the panel on opportunities and risks of the digital economy. He stressed that for all countries around the globe, but especially for Central-Europe, it is of strategic importance to join the global trends and prepare for the accelerating digital transformation. Hungary has proven itself in the frontline of Europe in terms of tax regulations and infrastructure developments. Nevertheless, our country’s ambition is to lead also in regional innovation and become the forerunner of digital competitiveness inside the EU. Key companies from the high-tech industry look at Hungary as an innovation and development hub, especially in the automotive sector. In terms of competences, the Government supports targeted vocational training and higher education programs that provide students with an up-to-date knowledge allowing them to dynamically adapt to the quickly changing digital and technological environment.
To read more about the event, please click here.
