More than 200 senior business leaders, policymakers, investors, sustainability professionals and United Nations representatives gathered in Colombo on August 11–12 for Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026, a flagship regional forum of the United Nations Global Compact focused on advancing sustainable and inclusive growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

Hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and organised by the UN Global Compact APAC Hub in collaboration with 14 Global Compact Country Networks, the two-day forum provided a high-level platform for regional stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and accelerate practical business action on sustainability.

The event brought together more than 80 distinguished speakers representing the business community, financial sector, government, United Nations agencies and civil society. CEOs, C-suite executives, board directors and senior decision-makers participated in discussions aimed at addressing some of the most pressing environmental, social and economic challenges facing businesses across Asia-Pacific.

Driving Practical Sustainability Action

Through plenary sessions, leadership panels and action-oriented workshops, participants examined a broad range of issues influencing the future of responsible business. Key areas included climate action, sustainable finance, gender equality, resilient supply chains, water stewardship, governance and integrity, digital innovation, human rights due diligence, circular economy solutions and ESG data.

A central theme of the forum was the need to move beyond sustainability commitments and translate ambition into measurable results. Businesses were encouraged to strengthen target-setting, decision-making processes and organisational systems while developing practical solutions capable of delivering impact at scale.

Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Role in the Regional Sustainability Agenda

A key highlight of the forum was the participation of Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. Her visit to Sri Lanka highlighted the country’s increasing engagement with the regional sustainability agenda and reinforced the importance of private-sector leadership in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Her programme also included bilateral meetings and strategic engagements with business and institutional leaders, creating opportunities to deepen collaboration between the UN Global Compact and Sri Lankan stakeholders.

New Initiatives to Advance Responsible Business

The forum also saw the launch of three important initiatives by the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, designed to extend the impact of the event beyond the two-day programme.

The Responsible Business Coalition was introduced to strengthen collaboration among Sri Lanka’s leading professional and industry associations. The initiative aims to integrate the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into existing industry platforms, training programmes and thought-leadership activities, while positioning responsible business as a shared responsibility at both C-suite and board level.

The Next Phase of the SDG Innovation Coalition was also launched, with the objective of accelerating measurable progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by encouraging innovation and greater private-sector collaboration around Sri Lanka’s national development priorities.

Meanwhile, the second day featured the launch of a One-Year Sustainable Finance Workplan at the SDG Investment Forum. Institutional investors, corporate leaders and policymakers examined ways to unlock transition capital in Sri Lanka, drawing on examples and case studies from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The leadership roundtable further strengthened the dialogue between government, investment and business, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Sanda Ojiambo and senior C-suite representatives from Sri Lanka and across the region.

Building Momentum for Sustainable Growth

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 demonstrated the importance of cross-sector and regional collaboration in transforming sustainability commitments into tangible business action. By bringing together global expertise, regional perspectives and national priorities, the forum created new opportunities for partnerships, innovation and measurable progress.

As businesses across Asia-Pacific respond to increasingly complex environmental, social and economic challenges, the forum reinforced a clear message: achieving sustainable development will require collective leadership, stronger partnerships and measurable action at scale.