H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma spoke at the International Business Forum during the The Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3) in July 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The UN’s Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia marked a major stepping stone towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the 193 member countries of the United Nations established a new financing framework for sustainable development. The financing requirements to achieve the SDGs by 2030 will far surpass current development flows and complementary forms of financing – including from the private sector, foundations, and international financial institutions are needed

The International Business Forum, as a part of the official FfD Conference programme, provided a platform for multi-stakeholder discussion where players across the global development community formally recognized and embraced the urgent need for further cooperation, creativity, and strategic dialogue with the private sector to better increase capital flows and capacity available to enable sustainable development solutions worldwide.

As widely agreed by Member States private business activity, investment, and innovation are major drivers of productivity, inclusive economic growth, and job creation. The diversity of the private sector, ranging from micro-enterprises to cooperatives to multinationals, offers creativity and innovation toward solving sustainable development challenges in partnership with others.

Business, with its practical, goal-oriented approach is a vital partner to achieve universal sustainable development in its three dimensions through promoting inclusive economic growth, protecting the environment, and promoting social inclusion.

H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma was one of the speakers at this conference. She participated in “An Enabling Environment for Business”. What policy frameworks and other conditions are needed to catalyze and enhance private sector growth and investment to advance the development agenda?” During this meeting she highlighted the challenges and needs of the African Informal sector and of the Small and Medium Enterprises in Africa and together with her fellow panelists she discussed about bridging the gap between large international financial institutions and the local needs: money for investments is available, but how to get access locally?

The panelists of “An Enabling Environment for Business” at the International Business Forum in Addis Ababa. From left to right: John Buckley, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility BNY Mellon; Hans Peter Lankes, Managing Director, Corporate Strategy and Acting Chief Economistat the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma CEO AbzeSolar; Jay Collins, Vice Chairman of Corporate Investment Banking Citi and the moderator Monish Mahurkar, Director of Treasury and Market Operations, IFC