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On 4 May, the Global Compact was formally launched in Italy. UN Deputy
Secretary-General Louise Fréchette attended the event at the Villa Madama
in Rome, together with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini,
Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs Mario Baccini and numerous representatives of
Italian business, civil society and the UN system.
Addressing the
participants, Louise Fréchette stated that "the prospect of having Italy’s
unique energies as part of this effort is very encouraging." She noted that,
with 23 Italian companies officially participating, "the Global Compact Italian
Network is up and running" and that the Italian Government and the country's
business community had shown great leadership in advancing the
Compact.
"I can assure you that the Secretary-General is very glad
to know that the Compact is taking hold in a country that plays such an
important and truly innovative role in the world economy," she
added.
Minister Frattini stressed the Global Compact's importance
for policies of democratic growth and cultural dialogue with the countries
concerned. This instrument, he said, has strategic value for sustainable
development cooperation.
In Italy, under the leadership of the
ILO, the Global Compact will put particular emphasis on the promotion of
awareness among small and medium-size enterprises engaged or planning to engage
in developing countries, as well as larger companies who source products in the
developing world.
In a unique outreach effort, the Global Compact
Italy intends to work closely with businesses and other social actors in North
Africa and Eastern Europe.
Please contact Ms. Laura Iucci (iucci@ilo.org) at the ILO's Rome office for more
information.
Please click here to view the complete text of Louise Fréchette's
speech.
Please click here to visit the website of the Global Compact in
Italy.
