00:00Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor and privilege to begin by welcoming His Highness
00:10Sheikh Ziauddin Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the International humanitarian
00:17and Islamic Council.
00:20Thank you, Your Highness, for joining us and for sharing your wisdom with us.
00:27Your presence here this morning exemplifies our national commitment to promote regional
00:35and global collaboration.
00:39Your passage of this conference is an indication of your keen interest and strong support for
00:49initiatives that enhance our nation's participation in regional and global progress.
00:58My dear friends and colleagues, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates welcome you to
01:06this global conference.
01:08We are honored to host such a distinguished group of influential political, societal,
01:18economic, and business leaders.
01:22Your presence in Abu Dhabi clearly reflects the status of the United Arab Emirates as
01:31a country committed to regional and global progress and cooperation.
01:38Esteemed dignitaries, distinguished guests, esteemed delegates, and fellow changemakers,
01:46all of you today are here to celebrate impact.
01:52I am so honored that we have in attendance so many excellencies and highnesses from the
01:59United Arab Emirates, but even from so far as Indonesia, with the ministerial delegation
02:06of His Excellency Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy
02:14of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Aryo Bimo Nandito Aryo Teho, Minister of Youth
02:23and Sports Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, with acknowledging His Highness Sheikh Tayyab
02:30Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nayyan, the Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic
02:37Council, for the fantastic collaboration that we have had with your team.
02:43I join His Excellency in welcoming you all to this global conference in the dynamic city
02:50of Abu Dhabi under the theme of One Asia, One Future.
02:56As we gather here today, we recognize the immense potential that lies in our diverse
03:03continent and the pivotal role that philanthropy and social investment play in shaping our future.
03:12Today, we are welcoming more than 1,500 funders, philanthropists, social investors, policy makers
03:21and change makers for our 11th ADPN Global Conference.
03:28Together, we are architects of change and catalysts for progress.
03:35Someone asked me, what is Asian philanthropy?
03:40Asian philanthropy is not merely a transactional act of giving.
03:45It is a powerful force for positive change.
03:50It is deeply rooted in our shared values of compassion, of empathy and of community.
03:58It encompasses a wide variety of activities, from traditional charitable donations to innovative
04:05social investments, which are aimed at addressing the most pressing issues that face our region today.
04:14The importance of philanthropy and social investment cannot be overstated.
04:21As His Excellency pointed out, we are confronted with complex issues such as poverty, inequality,
04:30climate change and healthcare disparities, which require collaborative and sustainable solutions.
04:38If we look at the UNESCOP report, the latest report on SDGs in the Asia-Pacific region,
04:46I am sorry to say that the region will not meet any of the SDG goals by 2030.
04:54That is why a convening like this one is so important.
05:00Each and every one of us is united in our goal to forge a future where prosperity and well-being
05:09are not reserved for a selected few, but actually accessible to all.
05:16But why is it crucial for players across Asia, from West, North, East and South,
05:23to come together to engage in discussions about philanthropy and impact investment?
05:30The answer lies in our interconnectedness.
05:34In discussing the importance of philanthropy and social investment in building an inclusive and sustainable Asia,
05:42it is very crucial to include West Asia in the conversation.
05:47West Asia occupies a very important geopolitical position, serving as a bridge between Asia, Africa and Europe.
05:57Its strategic location and abundant natural resources make it a key player in global affairs.
06:04And Abu Dhabi has a rich tradition of philanthropy, which is deeply rooted in its cultural and religious heritage.
06:13Philanthropists and social innovators in Asia are motivated by their values, by their beliefs, by their morals and by their principles,
06:24and they are emerging as powerful forces for change.
06:28In today's morning plenary, we will unpack our latest preliminary insights in how values and beliefs shape giving in Asia,
06:38which aims to break down silos and accelerate impact across Asia.
06:44Building with last year's success, with our inaugural Impact Investing Day,
06:50this year we will continue to dedicate an entire day to impact investing.
06:55I urge you to join us tomorrow as well to listen to insights across the globe and from Asian investors,
07:03specifically through the lens of blended finance, impact measurement and management, and the use of technology in harnessing impact.
07:12Where each individual here vibrates on a special frequency, brimming with love and gratitude,
07:19you all come from different backgrounds, different expertise, from investors, leaders in corporations, policy makers, consultants,
07:28researchers, entrepreneurs, social workers from all around the world, working for impact.
07:35But you are all philanthropists.
07:38This enlightens me because we are blessed to be in the United Arab Emirates,
07:43where serving each other is our force, and where love is the attribute of this country's heart.
07:50In the UAE's dictionary, philanthropy means acts of service, because serving is love.
07:59And it is our founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Hayyan's legacy.
08:05His lens was that service is every moment that elevates the human experience,
08:11including all the small things that make life shine.
08:15Our leadership and our community and our families do not say how may I help, or how can I help, or how can I give.
08:26They don't say how can I fix.
08:29Rather, the word you will hear in this country is how can I serve.
08:34We were taught at a young age the UAE serves.
08:39We serve our families, we serve our community, we serve society, we serve country, we serve the world, and we serve humanity.
08:47And you might say, well, serving, giving, helping, fixing are similar.
08:52This may be true if you are watching it from the outside.
08:56But the inner experience is very different.
08:59The outcome is also very different.
09:02Our service serves us as well as others.
09:09For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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