Converge signs UNGC’s call to action for stronger anti-corruption efforts

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has united with businesses around the globe in the call for governments to crack the whip against corruption affecting business communities worldwide.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., a leading fiber broadband and technology provider, has joined businesses worldwide in calling on governments to crack the whip against corruption affecting business communities worldwide.

Converge Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Benjamin Azada represented the company by signing the Call-to-Action from Business to Governments on the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

"Corruption remains one of the most harmful threats to sustainable development, causing crippling implications to industries and economies at large. Converge is one with the UN and the business community in the call for more immediate and aggressive steps to eradicate this and pave the way for businesses to thrive in good governance," said Azada.

Converge Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer Benjamin Azada represented the company as he joined other business leaders in signing the Call-to-Action from Business to Governments on the 20th Anniversary of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). 

While the true cost of corruption has yet to be calculated and reported, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) study revealed a snapshot based on bribes paid each year in both developing and advanced economies.

According to the report, bribes paid annually ranged between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion in 2016, representing roughly 2% of global GDP. According to the study, the economic and social costs of corruption "are likely to be even greater because bribes are only one aspect of the possible forms of corruption."

The aforementioned call to action urges governments worldwide to prioritize anti-corruption and good governance in the pursuit of a sustainable and inclusive economy, and to embrace these as guiding principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Among the steps advocated by the appeal's signatories are the strengthening of policies for business integrity in supply chains, the promotion of transparency in public-private interactions, the incorporation of corporate sustainability criteria into government decision-making processes, and the use of technology to manage corruption risks.

The signed appeal will be submitted at the tenth session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP10) on December 11 to 15 to serve as a basis for government discussions and decisions.

In 2022, Converge officially joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate social responsibility initiative, committing to taking responsible business actions in accordance with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

As a participant of UNGC, Converge has been dedicated to actively taking action in support of the UN’s goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Call-to-Action was developed during the 2023 UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York.