I am pleased to send greetings to the 42nd annual “Intelligence on the World, Europe and Italy” forum.  Last year, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 universal, integrated and indivisible Sustainable Development Goals designed to stimulate action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships.  

Now, we must move quickly to implement this vision and build on the momentum already generated among governments, the private sector and civil society.  Your sustained engagement is crucial.  I count on you to work together with all actors, including the United Nations, to achieve the Goals and their multiple targets.  We all have a stake in the SDGs.  We need transformational change in all countries to ensure that prosperity is equitably shared and the planet’s natural limits are respected. 

I urge all government representatives here today to translate your commitment to the SDGs into national action plans through an inclusive and consultative process with all stakeholders.  I also invite you to present your progress to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2017 and to share your country’s experiences in implementing the 2030 Agenda.

The private sector also has a key role to play in building a sustainable future.  Achieving the SDGs will require significant investment, the development of new technologies and the creation of new markets and jobs.  We must work together to ensure that people, economies and ecosystems can all thrive.  To advance this effort, the United Nations has convened the Financing for Development Forum, the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation, and the SDG Business Forum.  I encourage you all to participate and share your ideas. 

In the lead-up to the adoption of the SDGs, millions of people and many civil society organizations and businesses participated alongside governments in the most inclusive process the United Nations has ever conducted.  The responsibility now lies with these same actors to work in harmony to make the Sustainable Development Goals real for all people and nations so this generation and those to come  may enjoy peace, dignity, prosperity and opportunity on a healthy planet. 

I wish you a productive Forum.