The United Nations Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) celebrated its 20th anniversary by unveiling The Business of Better, a publication spotlighting how Singapore’s SMEs are driving sustainability and meaningful change through innovation and resilience.
On January 15, 2025, the United Nations Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) marked its 20th anniversary with a landmark event that underscored its enduring commitment to corporate sustainability. The celebration featured a book launch, a commemorative toast, and a specially produced video reflecting on two decades of championing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence in Singapore.
The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of The Business of Better: A Collection of SDG-Driven Member Success Stories. The publication showcases how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore are driving sustainability through innovation, resilience, and purposeful action.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
Honoring Two Decades of Progress
The event opened with a warm welcome from Esther Chang, Executive Director of GCNS, followed by speeches from Dr. Bicky Bhangu, President of UN GCNS, and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. In his keynote address, DPM Heng commended the organization’s pivotal role in advancing sustainability within Singapore’s corporate sector over the past two decades.
“Over the past 20 years, UN GCNS, as the local chapter of the UN Global Compact, has advanced the cause of corporate sustainability in Singapore. You have done so by working with companies of different sizes, scales, and expertise. Today, you have more than 250 members across industries – large multinational companies as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises,” he said.
The publication The Business of Better underscores the significant contributions of Singaporean SMEs in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights stories of companies navigating evolving regulations and stakeholder demands while maintaining a steadfast commitment to environmental and social progress.
DPM Heng noted the resilience and determination of these SMEs:
“By championing sustainability, these SMEs are creating positive change across industries and communities. I hope that reading them inspires many others to follow in their footsteps and chart their own sustainability journeys.”
From businesses with longstanding commitments to environmental sustainability to those adapting operations in response to changing market conditions, the profiles in the book demonstrate that even small-scale actions can yield substantial impacts.
A Collaborative Approach to Sustainability
Over the years, GCNS has forged strong partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including academic institutions, business associations like the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), and various unions. These collaborations have built a robust ecosystem for corporate sustainability, ensuring businesses of all sizes can align with global sustainability goals.
As part of its Forward Singapore initiative, the Government is prioritizing sustainability as a central component of Singapore’s low-carbon economy, further strengthening these partnerships.
The 20th-anniversary celebration coincides with preparations for Singapore’s 60th year of independence, or SG60, in 2025. DPM Heng highlighted this milestone as an opportunity to reflect on Singapore’s progress and set shared goals for the future.
“As we mark your 20th anniversary in the early weeks of 2025, we are also gearing up for a year-long celebration of SG60 – Singapore’s 60th year of independence. It is a good opportunity for us to take stock of how far we have come as a nation, and reflect on the shared goals we should strive for in the years and decades ahead,” DPM Heng stated.
For readers inspired by these stories, The Business of Better: A Collection of SDG-Driven Member Success Stories is available for download. Explore how SMEs in Singapore are shaping a sustainable future through innovation and resilience. Download the book here.
Lead image courtesy of UN Global Compact Network Singapore
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