Mauritius: The unveiling of the SBM Group’s Sustainability Agenda highlights the importance of meaningful partnerships, collaboration and knowledge sharing involving both the public and private sectors in order to accelerate the country’s progress towards a sustainable future.
The Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this statement yesterday evening, during the unveiling of the Sustainability Agenda of the State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) Group, at the Royal Green Wellness Resort in Moka.
The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Kavydass Ramano; the Group Chairperson of SBM Holdings Ltd, Sattar Hajee Abdoula; the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBM Holdings Ltd, Raoul Gufflet; and other eminent personalities were also present on this occasion.
In his address, Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that the SBM Group is pursuing its growth strategy in line with the Government’s vision of sustainable development.
He observed that Mauritius had aligned its national strategy with the United Nations Agenda 2030, which is a transformative blueprint centred on an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Government, he pointed out, recognises the urgent need to integrate sustainable practices into its policies, programmes, and the daily life of citizens so as to ensure the preservation of ecosystems and the prosperity of our Nation.
He remarked that sustainability had become a priority for all stakeholders and required a new mindset in order to realise a balancing act between economic growth and sustainable development.
The Prime Minister underlined that Government will ensure a brighter future for the coming generations by making sustainability the foundation upon which a resilient and thriving economy will be built.
Government, he emphasised, came up with a series of unprecedented measures and policies during the last few years so as to catalyse the country’s transition to a greener and more sustainable economy while continuing to invest in green energy with the aim for it to become one of the pillars of our economy.
Furthermore, he underpinned that financial services and banking sectors have a major role to play in the country’s transition pathways. Embarking on the transformative journey towards a sustainable future is no longer a choice but a necessity, he stated.
For his part, Mr Gufflet underscored that the unveiling of the SBM Group’s Sustainability Agenda comes at an opportune moment as the bank celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. As a responsible organisation, it is primordial for SBM Group to ensure that it plays a meaningful role in the economies and societies in which it operates.
He pointed out that a clear framework and roadmap have been devised to execute SBM Group’s Sustainability Agenda. As such, he added, the three key pillars guiding the actions of the Group are: promoting sustainable business, being a responsible organisation, and building inclusive communities.