I am pleased to convey warm greetings to this Fashion 4 Development event. 
I thank all involved for your continued support of the United Nations in our work to build a sustainable world of dynamic growth, shared prosperity and environmental protection.

Your gathering this year comes as many important efforts are under way.

Global consultations on the post-2015 development agenda have been taking place across the world, with the next major session to be held later this month in Indonesia.  The voices of civil society, the private sector and the academic, scientific and philanthropic communities are a crucial element in this process.

This past week, United Nations Member States began discussions aimed at articulating a set of Sustainable Development Goals.  Our aim is a framework that can be every bit as successful in inspiring, uniting and mobilizing the world as the Millennium Development Goals have been.

On April 5th, we will reach a milestone: 1,000 days until the end of the year 2015, the deadline for achieving the MDGs.  There has been remarkable progress in improving peoples’ well-being.  Yet we also know that far too many in our world still lack the basics for a decent life.

We must all do our utmost to accelerate our efforts.  I thank the many figures in the fashion industry who support UN causes, and look forward to more such fruitful collaboration.  Please accept my best wishes for a successful event.