Islamabad: Islamabad will host one of the region's most anticipated knowledge events today (Tuesday) as the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) opens its 28th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) alongside the 16th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES), the Third Sustainability Investment Expo (SIE), and the Ninth South and South-West Asia Subregional Forum on Sustainable Development (UNESCAP).
Over 45 sessions will bring together parliamentarians, policymakers, development practitioners, business leaders, technical experts, diplomats and academics from across South Asia, US and beyond to deliberate on sustainable finance, climate resilience, circular economy, COP30, SDGs, alternative finance strategy, eco-friendly agriculture-food systems, just energy transition, state of renewable energy in Pakistan, telecom and artificial intelligence, disaster risk reduction and anticipatory actions in South Asia, sustainable cities, green skills, tobacco control and social equity.
The conference opens on Day-1 Tuesday, 4th November with a high-level plenary featuring Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal as Chief Guest, joined by UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya, Ms. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bangladesh and Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan.
The Sustainability Investment Expo will be inaugurated by Climate Change Minister Senator Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, celebrating innovations in green finance, smart mobility, and renewable energy.
Later, Ms Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand and Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director (SDPI) to lead a strategic dialogue on accelerating the SDGs.
Moreover, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for National Food Security and Research and Minister of Industries and Production will be the chief guest flanked by Guest of Honour: Ms Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination to grace the High-Level Closing Plenary titled Unlocking Circular Opportunities in Plastics and Agri-Food Systems.
Media is requested to join the session for coverage and exclusive interviews with international and regional experts on the burning issues faced by the world and the region in particular related to sustainability, economic growth, climate change and climate finance and many more.