2024-09-12 23:29:38
Sustainability Summit was held for the first time with domestic brands to achieve sustainable development.
The Summit was held at La Meridien Hotel in the capital on Tuesday (September 11) under the initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.
Presented by Akiz Bashir Group and organized in collaboration with Intelia, the conference focused on aligning business practices in the country with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Besides, there are also discussions on how brands can play a role in achieving the SDGs in Bangladesh.
The summit discussions consisted of 1 keynote session, 2 panel discussions, 3 insight sessions and 1 case study. Experts from various sectors participated in it. They shared their experiences and ideas about sustainable business development.
Shariful Islam, founder and managing director of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, said in the opening speech that the future of Bangladesh will depend on the positive changes we collectively practice. Sustainability is no longer just a concept, it should be part of the DNA of every brand and organization. We are now standing on the brink of change. Our decisions today will strengthen our role for generations to come.
The conference started with a keynote session by Javed Akhtar, Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Bangladesh Limited and President of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He expressed his views on sustainable business in Bangladesh and the necessary measures to achieve it.
After that, Akiz Bashir Group Chairman Bashiruddin Ahmed presented a case study on the company’s sustainable practices.
The first panel discussion of the event was titled, ‘Why Bangladeshi Business Enterprises Need to be Sustainable for the Future World’. It was managed by the Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University and the President of Asia Marketing Federation and the Chairman of BBF Academy. Syed Farhat Anwar.
East West University’s Department of Economics and Dean and President of Marketing Society of Bangladesh participated in the panel discussion. A. K. Enamul Haq; BRAC Bank CEO & Managing Director Salim RF Hussain; Dhaka University Institute of Business Administration Professor Dr. Melita Mehzabin; Chairman of Daffodil International University (DIU). Sabur Khan; Saif Naseer, Managing Director, Social Marketing Enterprises Limited.
In addition, three insight sessions discussed modern and sustainable financing, renewable energy in the business sector and climate change policies. Sessions were moderated by International Finance Corporation ESG Officer Lopa Rahman; Shehzad Munim, Advisor and Former President of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mentor of Leadership Academy; Saif Islam, Senior Program Officer, International Labor Organization.
The second panel discussion of the conference or the CEO panel discussed the role of leadership and aligning sustainable development with business objectives. The discussion was moderated by the revolutionary business leader Asif Iqbal.
Besides, Sabbir Hasan Nasir, Managing Director of ACI Logistics Limited (SWAPN) participated in the discussion; Rupali Chowdhury, Managing Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited; PRAN-RFL Group Chairman & CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury; KAM Majedur Rahman, Group CEO of AK Khan & Company Limited; Innovation Consulting Private Limited Managing Director Rubayet Sarwar and Mutual Trust Bank Managing Director & CEO Syed Mahbubur Rahman.
The first edition of the Sustainability Summit provided hands-on experience in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and answered common questions related to the SDGs. The conference discussed opportunities for mutual collaboration and possible dynamics of brands in SDG practice. In addition, emerging SDG trends and innovations are also discussed.
Participants responded very positively and enthusiastically to this opportunity to discuss the importance of incorporating sustainability into brand strategy.
Sustainability Summit 2024 was held by Akiz Bashir Group. In addition, Intellier and The Daily Star collaborated.
The event was also supported by International Advertising Association Bangladesh, Asia Marketing Federation (AMF) and Marketing Society of Bangladesh.
It had as collaborators—Creative IT Institute; Technology Partner – Amra Technologies Limited; Hospitality partner La-Meridian Dhaka; PR Partner – Backpage PR.
Bangladesh Brand Forum and Sustainable Brand Initiative organized the first edition of the conference. Sustainability Summit 2024 is an initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.