EDINBURGH: Petra Group, a diversified global conglomerate which has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was among only 71 companies worldwide invited to participate in the recently concluded Vision 2045 Summit held here from Nov 8 to 10.
Vision 2045 Summit, which was held in conjunction with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), occurring simultaneously in Glasgow, Scotland, featured a series of round tables and panel discussions.
It gathered leaders from both the public and private sector as well as journalists, government officials and United Nations representatives to share their sustainability practices and thoughts on addressing climate change.
Petra Group was represented by its chairman and chief executive, Datuk (Dr) Vinod Sekhar; chief sustainability officer Mooreyameen Mohamad; managing director of Petra Eco-Build Rick Singh and chief executive of the good capitalism forum, Professor Dr Graham Kendall.
Vinod shared his insights on sustainability and social capitalism in a panel discussion on “Quality Education”, which is anchored on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 that aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
“Corruption and the lack of education weakens societies.
“This is why education is important in creating awareness and lifting communities, while enabling them to compete effectively in an economy,” said Vinod.
He added that the days of businesses steering away from community building is over. “Businesses must be part of the process with or without government intervention.
“When businesses make profits out of an eco-system or a community, they must make it a point to lift that ecosystem or community in order to create a life-cycle of profitability which will benefit everyone,” said Vinod.