IOE Centenary Summit: 100 years of business action

IOE celebrated its Centenary of business action on behalf of 50 million companies in over 140 countries under the theme "Achieving a multilateralism reset: Business contribution"

2 September 2020 was a milestone for the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) as we hosted a landmark event and the launch of the IOE Manifesto. With multilateralism under severe strains from a global health pandemic, massive economic disruption and major political headwinds, the IOE Centenary Summit brought the voice of business to the highest levels of the multilateral system, in particular to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Moderated by former BBC journalist Claire Doole, the Summit kicked off with the 5 IOE Regional Vice-Presidents spotlighting the achievements of the organisation together with a review of the future ambitions as outlined in the IOE Centenary Manifesto. 

The IOE community, together with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, also discussed 100 years of Employer action at the ILO and the importance of bringing business to multilateral relations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a keynote address taking stock of the role and influence of Employers within the United Nations and how to expand engagement with business throughout the UN and the entire multilateral system. High-level business leaders had the opportunity to engage in an insightful conversation with the UN Secretary-General, assessing impact of social dialogue; inclusive multilateralism and partnerships; the importance of MSMEs, formalising the economy and integrating the youth into the labour market, among others.

This important dialogue was followed by an extraordinary panel with the head of the UN Global Compact Sanda Ojiambo, the General-Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation Sharan Burrow, and the UN Resident Coordinator from Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee exploring concrete ways to expand cooperation between business and the UN.

IOE President Erol Kiresepi, who opened the Summit and presented business inputs to #UN75 survey, concluded the Summit and encouraged participation in further #IOE100 celebrations.

Did you miss it? Watch the full conference in English here (French and Spanish already available). Follow the full social media coverage of #IOE100 on Twitter (@ioevoice moment, @oievoix, @oievoz), Facebook and LinkedIn.