Welcome remarks

By the Ambassador of Switzerland,

Florence Tinguely Mattli
Global Compact Network Tanzania
Soft launch
Hyatt, Dar es Salaam, 19 January 2016
*

Your Excellency, Hon. Samia Hassan Suluhu, Vice President of the

United Republic of Tanzania,
Honourable Ministers,
Ambassadors,
UNGC Signatories,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to thank the organizers for offering me the opportunity to
address you at this special occasion.
Switzerland could call itself the cradle of the Global Compact, as the idea
was born during the 2000 World Economic Forum in Davos. Business
leaders challenged then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to come up with
a proposal that could align businesses with the global development
agenda and principles. Kofi Annans response to that was a Global
Compact, a private sector driven engagement to pursue universal
principals and aiming for sustainable businesses. Switzerland supported
the establishment of the Global Compact structure and headquarters in
New York and has since been one of the main contributors to the UNGC
Trust Fund (0,5 million CHF/year). Switzerland is an active and longstanding member of the UNGC Government Group that provides funding
and advise to the Executive Board in New York. Switzerland also chairs the
GC Group of Friends of diplomatic missions to the UN who meets quarterly
to reflect on and discuss matters related to the governance of the Global
Compact. At global level we have actively advocated for UNGC expansion
to the southern hemisphere and to Africa in particular. At home, the Swiss
Cooperation is also engaged in the recently revamped Swiss GC network.
Our engagement is based on Switzerlands firm conviction that increased
commitment by the business community to fair labour legislation, respect
for human rights and the environment and not in the least to do away with

graft and corruption is a win-win-win strategy! Businesses win as they

become more sustainable and profitable, governments win from economic
growth and increased revenues and society and all citizens win from jobs,
increased income and improved services. With no doubt such win-winwin strikes a chord with the priorities and intentions expressed by HE
President John Pombe Magufuli.
When the idea of establishing a Global Compact Network in Tanzania
emerged, Switzerland was quick to extend its engagement at global level
to the country level. We commissioned a feasibility study to see if there
was enough demand from the business side to drive this process
forward. The response was a careful yes. Businesses generally
recognized the Global Compact values and principles but were not very
clear what that could mean for them in Tanzania. There was a clear
information and knowledge gap on how to make universal principles
meaningful for businesses in Tanzania. So, in a second phase practical
information was gathered on how to establish a local network and
concrete examples were collected of how businesses in other countries
use the Global Compact to improve their own operations but also to
improve the business environment in general. Eventually a group of Global
Compact champions emerged from that process. In a third phase that
group of champions received support to conceive a local network, to
mobilize businesses to sign up, to go out and learn from other networks in
Kenya and South Africa and to create basic conditions for take off. Todays
event is the culmination of this process and it is highly satisfactory to see
that the seed has taken roots in Tanzanian soil, but it is of course only the
beginning.
The moment seems right: businesses are eager to make the most of the
many opportunities that the country offers, and the new government has
made a strong and public commitment to improve the business
environment in the rightful expectation to see its domestic revenue
increase through constructive engagement. Corruption has been identified
in many reports as a major obstacle to (private sector) development in
Tanzania. Fighting corruption is part of the GC principles and the
Government has made it a top priority so this initiative can be a timely
conduit for collective action on this pressing issue.
We know the Global Compact is not a solution by itself, but it is an
instrument that can be used to transform the goodwill on both
government and business side in sustainable progress that benefits many
Tanzanians. The GC principles is a useful framework to guide both
government and private sector towards a rule-based business
environment that allows for fair competition, sustainable businesses, and
economic growth that benefits ever more citizens through jobs and
improved services. I think I can safely say that all development partners of
Tanzania support this agenda.
I wish to reiterate our continued moral and practical support to make this
initiative work in Tanzania, but the key to success does of course not rest
with Switzerland or any other development partner. It will primarily rest
with the level and quality of commitment and engagement of business
leaders here in Tanzania. In that sense, we congratulate the promoters of
this initiative with the progress made so far. We reiterate that we and

other international partners are at your side, we support your mission, but
let there be no doubt that only you, the business community, can bring
durable change. We wish that todays event may boost your drive to
continue on this promising track.
Thank you for your attention.