Aston University is launching a three year research study to examine how international companies contribute towards India’s social and economic upgrading through their commitment and engagements with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their supply chains in India.
SDGs have become the most aspirational global developmental goals since their launch in 2015. They are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.India as a growing economy is moving upward on the ‘ease of doing business’ index, rising to 77th place from 130th in two years, but it still faces a lot of developmental challenges which hamper its pace of growth.
India as a growing economy is moving upward on the ‘ease of doing business’ index, rising to 77th place from 130th in two years, but it still faces a lot of developmental challenges which hamper its pace of growth.The research project, “Promoting Responsible Value Chains in India for an Effective Contribution of the Private Sector to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, will study international companies’ contribution to the developmental challenges of India, such as employment opportunities for young people, women’s social and economic empowerment, and environmental destruction caused through unplanned and unchecked business activities in the supply chains.
The research project, “Promoting Responsible Value Chains in India for an Effective Contribution of the Private Sector to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, will study international companies’ contribution to the developmental challenges of India, such as employment opportunities for young people, women’s social and economic empowerment, and environmental destruction caused through unplanned and unchecked business activities in the supply chains.It will be led by
It will be led by Dr Bimal Arora, Assistant Professor in Work & Organisational Psychology at Aston Business School in Birmingham, and will be implemented by the Aston India Centre for Applied Research (AICAR) in partnership with the CRB. The research grant is supported by the International Development Research Centre, a Crown Corporation of the Government of Canada.NITI Aayog, the policy thinktank of the Government of India, has been arguing that, “a quantum jump in exports present a tremendous opportunity for India and the conditions are ripe for India to enhance exports to boost economic growth”. The Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, also said recently that the government is working on a strategy to raise the share of exports in GDP to 20%, from the 12% in 2017-18.
NITI Aayog, the policy thinktank of the Government of India, has been arguing that, “a quantum jump in exports present a tremendous opportunity for India and the conditions are ripe for India to enhance exports to boost economic growth”. The Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, also said recently that the government is working on a strategy to raise the share of exports in GDP to 20%, from the 12% in 2017-18.The Indian government also acknowledges that the private sector needs to play an active role in helping address some of the development challenges of India. Global value chains (GVCs) have extensive footprints in India and Indian policymakers are keen that the Indian enterprises, particularly SMEs, enhance their capacities, productivity and efficiencies and become part of the GVCs. Some of the major industry sectors which link up India with the international market through GVCs and international production networks (both backward and forward linkages)
The Indian government also acknowledges that the private sector needs to play an active role in helping address some of the development challenges of India. Global value chains (GVCs) have extensive footprints in India and Indian policymakers are keen that the Indian enterprises, particularly SMEs, enhance their capacities, productivity and efficiencies and become part of the GVCs. Some of the major industry sectors which link up India with the international market through GVCs and international production networks (both backward and forward linkages) include: agriculture/agro-based, apparel and textiles, mining and minerals, chemicals, automotive, electrical, FMCG/retail, telecoms/ICT and financial services.The project will be launched on 14 November 2018 in New Delhi at ‘India and Sustainability Standards: International Dialogues & Conference 2018,’ an annual flagship sustainability conference held by the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), a not-for-profit non-governmental thinktank in India.
The project will be launched on 14 November 2018 in New Delhi at ‘India and Sustainability Standards: International Dialogues & Conference 2018,’ an annual flagship sustainability conference held by the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), a not-for-profit non-governmental thinktank in India.Saskia Loer-Hansen, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Professor Pawan Budhwar, Pro Vice-Chancellor (India) at Aston University, will be hosting project related seminars and a dinner reception on the occasion of the project launch.
Saskia Loer-Hansen, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Professor Pawan Budhwar, Pro Vice-Chancellor (India) at Aston University, will be hosting project related seminars and a dinner reception on the occasion of the project launch.Ms Loer-Hansen said: “The study will contribute to help India grow more inclusively, by exploring and establishing alignments of private sector’s business practices with the SDGs, which will, in turn, help businesses being more transparent and responsible towards community and environment, while expanding opportunities and market access globally.”
Ms Loer-Hansen said: “The study will contribute to help India grow more inclusively, by exploring and establishing alignments of private sector’s business practices with the SDGs, which will, in turn, help businesses being more transparent and responsible towards community and environment, while expanding opportunities and market access globally.”Dr Arora explained: “Businesses are expected to contribute to tackling complex challenges and their role is becoming even more critical and important in the new global frameworks. Corporate social responsibility and business sustainability are popular notions among policymakers, companies and scholarly communities globally, and increasingly in India too.”
Dr Arora explained: “Businesses are expected to contribute to tackling complex challenges and their role is becoming even more critical and important in the new global frameworks. Corporate social responsibility and business sustainability are popular notions among policymakers, companies and scholarly communities globally, and increasingly in India too.”
