A Singapore-based Indian-origin businessman joined the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, which aims to help accelerate sustainable growth in agri-business.

Indian-origin Sunny Verghese is co-founder and CEO of Singapore's agri-business group Olam International Limited. 

He joins a host of leaders from the private sector, academia and civil society, who are committed to accelerating the world's transition to inclusive and sustainable growth.

Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Chair of the Business Commission, said that, "The world cannot achieve sustainable development without the full engagement of the food and agriculture sectors, which are critical to achieving not just one, but the majority of the Global Goals." "Sunny's leadership in agri-business will be essential to increasing the number of leaders who understand the incredible opportunity for both growth and sustainability in this sector."

Verghese said that, "One of the meanings of the word Olam is 'enduring' or 'everlasting'. I believe the only way we can build an enduring business is to put sustainability at the heart of our business. This is reflected in 'Growing Responsibly', our core purpose, which guides us to pursue profitable growth in an ethical, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable way."

"I am excited to join the Business Commission, as it seeks to inspire and catalyse companies to embed sustainability at the core of their businesses and aims to foster collaborations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030," he added.

The SDGs was launched in 2015. It aims 17 ambitious targets to end hunger and poverty, reduce inequality and tackle climate change by 2030.

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Nandini