Concordia and Philip Morris International Programming Sponsorship

Philip Morris International (PMI), a multinational tobacco company, is partnering with Concordia to sponsor a Strategic Dialogue session at the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit on addressing inclusivity in multilateral decision making. The United Nations 2030 Agenda has created a roadmap for addressing pressing global challenges, with a pathway paved through partnership (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals). With key private sector voices often excluded from providing meaningful input in developing partnerships or shaping global regulation, collective opportunities for impact are not being realized. This Strategic Dialogue will build on a set of conversations hosted by Concordia in 2018 on driving progress towards achieving the SDGs through enhanced inclusivity.

The goals of this relationship between Concordia and PMI are twofold. The two organizations will strive to improve cross-sector dialogue on innovation and regulation regarding reduced harm products, while working towards the common goal of improving the overall health of all people and the planet. Additionally, this relationship seeks to strengthen partnerships with, and within, the multilateral space in order to achieve the SDGs.

Building on a relationship that spans multiple years, this programming sponsorship seeks to further the initiatives in place by bringing the conversation to the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit and beyond.

At the 2018 Concordia Americas Summit in Bogotá, Colombia, PMI led a roundtable discussion centered around encouraging innovation in Latin America to further harm reduction. The conversations that took place focused on utilizing private sector-driven innovation in unlocking new solutions for governments to provide for the wellbeing of their people. The discussion laid clear that there were a number of regulatory levers that the Colombian Government can put in place to convert existing smokers towards the adoption of harm reduction products, while still working to reduce the nation’s overall number of smokers.

In June, PMI supported and led the roundtable discussion, “Inclusivity: The Driver of Innovation,” where the key takeaway was that new ways to move progress forward are needed. There are obstacles to inclusivity across all parties, but more importantly, there are positive examples of leadership that should be amplified.

PMI also helped cultivate conversations at the 2017 Concordia Annual Summit, where the organization led the roundtable discussion “Disruptive Innovation for Better Business.” This high-level discussion provided an exchange of views on the promise that disruptive innovation holds for society. Representatives from both the private and political sectors discussed how regulation can serve as a catalyst to accelerate change, and explored areas where innovation is already changing the way products are being built and utilized.

To learn more about the 2018 Concordia Annual Summit, visit www.concordia.net/annualsummit/2018annualsummit