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Samsung has called on corporate investors to make the necessary commitments in investment to achieve the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa.   

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were replaced in September last year by the new set of development goals – the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs aim to address three interconnected elements of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Abey Tau, Public Affairs and Corporate Citizenship Manager for Samsung Electronics Africa, said in a statement issued on Friday that the MDGs produced important outcomes, especially in terms of poverty alleviation. The MDGS contributed in decreasing the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 from 47 percent in 1990 to 14 percent in 2015. However, many are still left behind, despite the progress made.

Tau said part of the goals of the SDGs is not just to reduce but to end poverty. He said the challenge is to ensure that global GDP growth is inclusive enough to impact positively on the poor.

According to reports, the SDGs will require an annual outlay of $2.5 trillion for it to be implemented successfully, which will need to come from private investment. Therefore, Tau said the private sector needs to get involved in an effort to show support for sustainable development.

"It makes sense to get behind the SDGs because they are a mechanism to help end poverty and promote sustainability across the board. It may be Corporate Citizenship that kick starts the process, but it is essential that every individual is working towards a common goal,” Tau said.

Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship Manager said the global electronics manufacturing giant is making its own positive contribution towards the SDGs. He said the company continues to inspire the world and create the future through innovative technologies that enrich people’s lives and contribute to social growth.

"We see ourselves as an active participant in the global agenda to help promote positive change by using our global network of employees, suppliers and partners. This is why we have established solutions which help address the needs of communities, particularly in education, health, skills and employability," Tau noted.

In 2015, Samsung established Digital Villages in various countries in Africa including Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Senegal, among others. Designed in collaboration with African communities, the Digital Village concept comprises of mobile, solar-powered facilities including solar powered internet schools, solar powered generators to serve as the high-tech hub for rural and underserved communities.

Samsung’s Solar Powered Health Centre was introduced in 2013 in sub-Saharan Africa, a region where hundreds of women die every day during pregnancy or from childbirth-related complications, despite reduction in maternal deaths. Patients can be screened at the centres to diagnose conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and cataracts.

The Corporate Citizenship Manager for Samsung added that there is no doubt that the SDGs will, in one way or another, shape the global agenda on economic, social and environmental development over the next 15 years.

"It is also true that global action is the best way to ensure accountability and inclusivity. Ultimately, the call is for everyone from government, to the private sector and civil society to play their part in creating a sustainable future,” added Tau, who was a South African finalist in the 2014 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship programme of President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).