New Delhi, Apr 3 (KNN) The Centre for Responsible Business (C4RB) is organizing an inception meeting of key stakeholders to discuss outline and receive views to take forward its agenda of the project PROGRESS launched by it to look at Global Value Chains and their implication on specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India.

The meeting involves experts from industry associations and research centres from India as well as abroad. It will be held on April 9, 2019 in the New Delhi.

The PROGRESS project was launched by CRB at the 5th Annual Sustainability Conference in November to look at Global Value Chains and their implication on specific SDGs in India, particularly women's empowerment, youth employment and environment.

The project is being undertaken with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.

The project will be looking at four sectors - Apparel & Textiles, Agro-processing, Gems & Jewellery and Pharmaceuticals.

The opening remarks will be given by Bimal Arora, Aston India Centre for Applied Research, Aston University, UK and special remarks will be given by Bouba Housseini, International Development Research Centre, Canada.
Mr Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General of Federation of Indian Micro and Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) has also been invited as a Panellist for the session 'Value Chains in India and Linkages with critical SDGs'.

He would deliberate on topics including how can and how have GVCs contributed towards achievement of SDGs in the supplier countries (evidences in India) and what opportunities exist for India to leverage its ability as a key player in GVCs.

Devyani Hari from the Centre for Responsible Business will share an overview on the project.

Representatives and experts from the sectors such as Textiles and Apparels, Agro-Processing, Gems & Jewelry, and Pharmaceuticals and thematic areas  such as education, employment and decent work for the youth, women’s social and economic empowerment, Sustainable consumption and production will be present at the meeting.

According to the agenda of the meeting, CRB and Aston India Centre for Applied Research (AICAR), Aston University, UK have teamed up to explore and investigatehow private sector companies -as part of Global Value Chains(GVCs), production networks and foreign direct investment (FDI)in India have/could better contribute towards achievement of specific SDGs, particularlyinclusive education and life-long learning (SDG4), employment and decent work for the youth (SDG8), women’s social and economic empowerment (SDG 5) and sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12).

The generated evidence would be used to influence and support policy and practice (industry) level discussions and actions through multi-stakeholder processes in India, in four key sectors.

It would thereby demonstrate methodology for achieving sustainable and inclusive GVCs aimed at benefiting the youth, women and local environment in India. (KNN Bureau)