Business & UN

ICC Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal to attend Heads of State lunch at the United Nations

  • 19 September 2017

UN Secretary General extends rare honour to ICC as the first private-sector organisation accorded permanent Observer status at the UN General Assembly.

  • Heads of State (HOS) lunch meeting to be attended by US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron among other global leaders
  • ICC Chairman to highlight the importance of further opening up international trade and facilitating free movement of people during his interaction with the global leaders

The International Chamber of Commerce received significant recognition at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) when its Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal was extended a formal invitation to join the Annual HOS luncheon to be held on 19 September 2017. Mr Mittal will be joining the HOS meeting, which will also be attended by US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Brazilian President Michel Temer, among other key world leaders.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres invoked a significant exception to past practice by inviting Mr Mittal to the Annual HOS Meet, which has traditionally been reserved for government leaders. This invitation follows the landmark decision to accord ICC a permanent seat as an observer of the UN—the first time a private-sector organisation has received such an honour. ICC received this status in December 2016 during the first year of Mr Mittal’s chairmanship.

At the meeting, Mr Mittal will highlight the importance of conducting globalisation in a responsible and sustainable manner and facilitating the free movement of goods, services and people. He will also address various other UN forums in the following days, emphasising the benefits of digital trade and technology-led innovations to promote equitable global growth.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr Mittal said, “It’s a great honour for ICC to be a part of such high-level deliberations at the UN, and I extend my sincere gratitude to the UN Secretary General for this rare recognition. ICC remains committed to promote the cause of responsible business and will continue to contribute as a global citizen to achieve the sustainable development goals identified by the UN.”