Global GDP to grow by $28trn in 2025 on workforce gender equalisation – LADOL boss

If the world ensures equal engagement of both genders in companies’ workforce, global Gross Domestic Products (GDP) would grow by about $28 trillion, by the year 2025, says Amy Jadesimi, managing director of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics base (LADOL), who delivered a speech at the just concluded United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America (USA).

Jadesimi, who was a member of the 31 International Commissioners forum held in sequel to the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment report released on 22 September 2016, spoke on behalf of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, chaired by Mark Malloch-Brown and co-founded by Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever.
In her speech titled, “Women are driving the global economy”, she said that women’s contribution to global economic growth is that of leading agents in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and not as beneficiaries as erroneously believed.
“The Commission is making a powerful case, supported by sound evidence, rigorous research and comprising real-world examples, for why the private sector should seize upon the SDGs as the greatest opportunity for corporate growth and profitability of our lifetime. It will help high growth; low income countries achieve the SDGs by catalysing the empowerment of and the investment in critical and currently marginalised groups, such as local private sector companies and women,” she said.
Describing the mission and vision of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission as being in line with those of LADOL, she noted that “just as LADOL has positively disrupted the oil and gas and maritime sectors, the BSDC seeks to support and drive disruptive innovations that (are) breaking new ground and transforming business models in health, education, mobility, agriculture and energy”.
Such business models, according to her, “are challenging the status quo of established industries—from fossil fuels to fashion. The work of the Commission is all the more important given the threats of social and environmental externalities”.
To this end, she urged the private sector to immediately accelerate inclusive growth and drive sustainability at a greater speed so as to scale than ever before.
Jadesimi disclosed that the Commission will show how SDGs will provide the private sector with the framework for achieving this market shift.
She added the Business Commission’s flagship report due to be published in January 2017, will highlight “the evidence for new sustainable growth models, which are becoming increasingly more attractive and affordable.