More than 200 senior business leaders, policymakers, investors, sustainability practitioners and United Nations representatives convened in Colombo on 11–12 August for Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026: Driving Business Leadership for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth—the United Nations Global Compact’s flagship regional forum in Asia-Pacific.

Hosted by UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and organized by the UN Global Compact APAC Hub in collaboration with 14 Global Compact Country Networks, the forum strengthened regional collaboration and demonstrated the growing role of business leadership in advancing sustainable and inclusive growth across Asia-Pacific.

More than 80 high-level speakers from across the region contributed to the two-day programme, bringing together expertise from business, finance, government, the United Nations and civil society. The forum also convened an exceptional audience of CEOs, C-Suite, Board Directors, Heads of UN agencies and senior decision-makers, creating one of the region’s most significant platforms for cross-sector dialogue on sustainable business.

Across plenary dialogues, leadership panels and action-oriented workshops, participants explored the issues shaping the future of business in Asia-Pacific, including 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 for decision-making. Rather than focusing solely on ambition, Forward Faster Now challenged businesses to move from broad sustainability goals to target setting, practical decisions, stronger systems and action that can deliver progress at scale.

A defining milestone of the forum was the visit of Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. Her presence in Sri Lanka underscored the country’s growing role within the regional sustainability agenda and reinforced the importance of private sector leadership in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals.

Beyond the public programme, her visit included a series of bilateral engagements and strategic convenings with business and institutional leaders, deepening relationships and opening new avenues for engagement between the UN Global Compact and stakeholders in Sri Lanka.

The event also marked the launch of three significant initiatives by UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka that will extend the impact of the convening well beyond the event itself. The Responsible Business Coalition was introduced as a new partnership to embed sustainability, and strengthen governance by bringing together Sri Lanka's leading professional and industry associations to embed the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into their existing convening, training and thought-leadership channels, moving responsible business from a standalone function to a shared C-Suite and Board responsibility.

In parallel, the Next Phase of the SDG Innovation Coalition was launched to accelerate measurable SDG progress by mobilizing innovation and private sector collaboration around national development priorities.

On the second day, the 1 Year Sustainable Finance Workplan was launched at the SDG Investment Forum which brought together institutional investors, corporate leaders and policymakers to examine how transition capital could be unlocked in Sri Lanka through case studies across Asia-Pacific. The leadership roundtable was further elevated by the participation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Assistant Secretary General Ms. Sanda Ojiambo alongside C-suite participants from Sri Lanka and the wider region, reinforcing the critical connection between policy, investment and sustainable economic growth.

Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 demonstrated the UN Global Compact’s unique ability to convene leaders across sectors and borders around a shared agenda for responsible business. By connecting global leadership with regional expertise and national action, the forum strengthened partnerships, elevated practical solutions and created new momentum for businesses to move forward faster on sustainability.

As Asia-Pacific continues to navigate complex environmental, social and economic challenges, Forward Faster Now | APAC 2026 leaves a clear legacy: sustainable development will be achieved not through isolated commitments, but through collective leadership, stronger partnerships and measurable business action at scale.