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UN Global Compact and private sector move to accelerate progress on SDGs in Africa

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Kampala Declaration calls for scaling up Forward Faster initiative across Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — To accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, the United Nations Global Compact hosted the SDGs Activation Day earlier this week as part of its Forward Faster Now Africa initiative.

The SDG Activation Day served as the private sector space within the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) held 7-11 April. With the theme, “Moving Forward Faster Now on the SDGs with African Businesses”, the SDG Activation Day brought together CEOs, corporate sustainability professionals, private sector leaders as well as representatives from Governments, policymakers, UN officials and other stakeholders from across Africa for high-level discussions.

With only 17 per cent of SDG targets on track for 2030, the UN Global Compact launched its Forward Faster initiative in 2023 to mobilize ambitious corporate action in high-impact areas: gender equality, living wage, water resilience, climate action and sustainable finance. Forward Faster calls on business leaders everywhere to drive companies to take measurable, credible and ambitious action in 5 areas that have the power to accelerate progress across all 17 SDGs where the private sector can collectively make the biggest, fastest impact by 2030.

Opening discussions, Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, emphasized the critical role of private businesses in achieving the 2030 Agenda:

“To achieve the Africa that we all want, we know that we need forward thinkers – bold private sector leaders committed to working together and alongside Governments and civil society. Our UN Global Compact Forward Faster initiative is designed to guide and support business leaders and companies in areas where the business community is best equipped to scale sustainable business and sustainable development. These companies tell us that joining Forward Faster has helped shape company strategy, increase visibility, and build public trust, as well as get ahead of new regulations.”

The convening highlighted the urgent need for businesses to take action, inspiring participants to raise their ambitions. Through dedicated sessions on gender equality, sustainable finance and living wage, attendees heard tangible examples from leading African companies, facilitating peer learning to share best practices. In each session, attendees explored innovative approaches to enhance private sector engagement in sustainability, especially actions that businesses can take now, without any need for additional resources.

In his remarks, Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), urged business leaders to act decisively, noting that with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) unlocking the potential of a $3.4 trillion market, the opportunities to harness Africa’s potential are immense if done inclusively and sustainably.

“The private sector is no bystander; it is indispensable to job creation, innovation, and ultimately, prosperity for all Africans,” Pedro said. “We must move beyond visions, declarations, and plans— beyond even conferences—and translate these commitments into concrete action.”

The Kampala Declaration, the outcome document of the ARFSD-11, included a call for incentivizing private sector investments aligned with the SDGs and for scaling up the Forward Faster initiative in Africa to accelerate progress on the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Key discussions on driving SDGs action

On sustainable finance, SDG Activation Day participants discussed how innovative public-private-partnerships (PPPs) can serve as a way to collaboratively create transformative impact. Financial services executives also shared how capital can be mobilized towards the SDGs, sharing learnings on risk management, blended finance and financial inclusion.

During the gender equality session, private sector leaders shared how they were able to move the needle within their organizations through recruitment, retention, procurement and male allyship. On living wages, participants called for cross-sector collaboration—from policy and awareness to research and technical support to ensure fair pay that lifts workers out of poverty and fuels economic growth.

Members of the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) highlighted how collective action is a multiplier for impact. Leaders shared how the ABLC has already mobilized nearly 5 billion USD for climate action and centred the importance of promoting women’s economic inclusion with the ABLC Gender Statement.

The ARFSD is an annual inter-governmental and multi-stakeholder platform mandated to review progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, while identifying and promoting interventions to accelerate implementation of the two Agendas, and generating Africa’s regional inputs to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and other major national, regional, and global meetings.

The African private sector has embraced the sustainable development agenda and the UN Global Compact now counts more than 1,100 participants in the region. To date, more than 115 companies in Africa have made 585 specific commitments to deliver meaningful progress by 2030. We all call on African businesses of all sizes to commit to one or more forward faster targets. For those who are not yet Global Compact participants, learn more about joining the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative HERE.

About the UN Global Compact

The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 63 Country Networks covering 80 countries and 13 Country Managers establishing Networks in 18 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative—one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

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SOURCE United Nations Global Compact

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Beijing Review: 50 Years of Growing Partnership

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BEIJING, May 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On May 6, 1975, China and the European Economic Community, the predecessor to today’s European Union, established diplomatic relations. This historic moment opened a new chapter of friendship and cooperation.

 

Over the past half a century, both sides have championed multilateralism, deepened collaboration and achieved mutually beneficial outcomes. Their enduring efforts have played a constructive role in advancing global peace and development. A healthy and stable partnership not only serves their interests, but also helps shape a better world.

“The wise find common ground; the unwise dwell on differences.” This slightly adapted line from the earliest known text on Chinese medicine, The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, reflects the spirit of cooperation between the two sides across decades and offers a guiding vision for the future.

In March 2014, shortly before his state visit to Belgium and visit to the EU headquarters, President Xi Jinping cited this ancient Chinese quote in his article published in Belgian newspaper Le Soir. The sentence emphasizes that wise people focus on shared values and embrace diversity to achieve mutual benefit; whereas the unwise amplify differences, foment conflict and invite failure.

Through this quote, Xi conveyed his hope that China and the EU will respect each other, treat each other as equals, seek common ground while respecting differences, deepen communication and stay committed to mutually beneficial cooperation. He called for finding the greatest common interests, sharing opportunities and jointly tackling challenges.

Given their differences in history and culture, social institutions and stages of development, it is only natural for China and the EU to have varying perspectives, and even disagreements, on certain issues. Like-mindedness makes for partnership, and seeking common ground while respecting differences is also a feature of partnership.

Both past experiences and present realities have shown that as long as both sides adhere to mutual respect, treat each other as equals and engage in candid dialogue, differences cannot stand in the way of dialogue, nor can disagreements impede collaboration.

To date, China and the EU have established over 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms, covering a broad spectrum of sectors including politics, economy and trade, people-to-people exchange, science and technology, energy and the environment.

Bilateral trade expanded from just over $2.4 billion in 1975 to over $780 billion in 2024. Two-way investment, once negligible, surged to nearly $260 billion. Since its launch in 2011, the China-Europe Railway Express, dubbed the “steel camel caravan,” has reached 227 cities across 25 European countries, completing over 100,000 freight trips, and become a key link between Asia and Europe.

Throughout history, both Chinese and European civilizations have made lasting impacts on the progress of humanity. In recent years, exchanges in education, science and technology have flourished. Cultural exchange is becoming more vibrant and connections between people are growing ever closer, continuously enriching their shared stories of mutual understanding, cooperation, exchange and mutual learning.

“The wise find common ground; the unwise dwell on differences.” At the new starting point that is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, China and the EU should remain true to the original aspiration of their partnership, seek common ground while respecting differences, build mutual trust and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation. Together, they will foster global peace and prosperity, as well as usher in a new, promising chapter in the next 50 years.

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SOURCE Beijing Review

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HashKey Exchange Achieves SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 Certifications

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HONG KONG, May 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HashKey Exchange, the largest* licensed virtual asset exchange in Hong Kong, today announced that HashKey Custody Services Limited** (abbreviated as “HashKey Exchange”) has achieved the SOC 1 Type 2 Certification and SOC 2 Type 2 Certification. The certification reinforces HashKey Exchange’s role as a trusted partner for institutional and retail clients seeking compliant, enterprise-grade solutions.

The certification reports include the auditor’s opinion affirming the suitability and operational effectiveness of controls, defined control objectives aligned with security, availability, and confidentiality criteria, rigorous testing methodologies including inspections and risk assessments, and evidence of consistent control effectiveness throughout the audit period.

The scope of the certification provides reasonable assurance that HashKey Exchange’s service commitments and system requirements are achieved based on the Trust Services Criteria relevant to security, availability, and confidentiality (“applicable trust services criteria”) set forth in TSP Section 100, 2017 Trust Services Criteria for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy, under the AICPA Trust Services Criteria.

This achievement is significant, reflecting a well-designed system that provides reliable, secure, and resilient services for users across HashKey Exchange’s platforms, including digital asset trading, custody, and asset management solutions. The SOC 1 Type 2 audit assessed HashKey Exchange’s controls over a specified timeframe, confirming ongoing effectiveness in ensuring financial reporting accuracy, maintaining data integrity, and complying with regulatory requirements. The SOC 2 Type 2 audit evaluated HashKey’s controls over an extended period, ensuring consistent operational effectiveness in safeguarding client data, mitigating risks, and maintaining system uptime.

The certification builds on HashKey Exchange’s existing compliance framework, which includes ISO 27001 (information security management) and ISO 27701 (privacy information management), positioning HashKey Exchange as a high-level global digital asset service provider able to meet such rigorous, multi-layered standards.

The SOC 1 Type 2 Certification is accordance with International Standard on Assurance Engagement 3402, Assurance Reports on Controls at a Service Organisation (“ISAE 3402”), issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (“IAASB”). SOC 2 Type 2 Certification based on the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria. Both are rigorous compliance reports verifying that an organization’s controls operate effectively over a sustained period. These reports are issued by independent auditing firms accredited to assess and attest to the operational reliability of these controls.

*As of January 31, 2025, HashKey Exchange ranks 7 on CoinGecko’s global exchange list and is the highest-ranked licensed virtual asset exchange in Hong Kong.

**Note: HashKey Custody Services Limited serves the sole purpose of safeguarding custodial clients’ assets for HashKey Exchange, which can be referred to simply as HashKey Exchange.

About HashKey Exchange
On a mission to set the bar for virtual asset exchanges in compliance, safety, and security, HashKey Exchange (HBL) was granted as a licensed virtual asset exchange to provide retail services in Hong Kong. HashKey Exchange has received approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong to operate a virtual asset trading platform under Type 1 (Dealing in securities) licence, Type 7 (Providing automated trading services) licence and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) licence. As HashKey Group’s flagship exchange business, HashKey Exchange provides trading services for both professional investors (PI) and retail investors. HashKey Exchange has obtained ISO 27001 (Information Security) and ISO 27701 (Data Privacy) management system certifications. HashKey Exchange does not service users from Mainland China, United States and certain other jurisdictions in compliance with laws and regulations. This material has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong or any other regulator.

Stay tuned for more details about HashKey Exchange. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE HashKey Exchange

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DynaFile Leverages the Power of Adobe Acrobat Sign to Eliminate Paper and Simplify HR Document Management

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DynaFile Announces Integration with Adobe Acrobat Sign to Simplify HR Document Management DynaFile has launched a new integration with Adobe Acrobat Sign to help HR teams fully digitize their document workflows. This integration allows for seamless electronic signatures and automated filing of signed documents into DynaFile’s secure, cloud-based repository, making files instantly accessible and audit-ready. The combined solution streamlines critical HR processes such as onboarding, policy acknowledgments, tax forms, and compliance documents—ideal for remote and hybrid teams. It also supports industry-specific compliance needs (HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, FDA 21 CFR Part 11) through secure encryption, audit trails, and automated retention tools. With this integration, HR professionals can reduce paper use, boost efficiency, and ensure compliance across every stage of the employee lifecycle.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., May 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — DynaFile, the industry-leading cloud-based document management system for HR, is proud to announce a new integration leveraging Adobe Acrobat Sign, a trusted global e-Signature solution. By combining the power of DynaFile’s automated document management with Adobe Acrobat Sign’s secure e-Signature capabilities, HR teams can now fully digitize employee file workflows in a secure, compliant, and efficient way.

We’re excited to offer our customers seamless e-Signature capabilities by integrating with Adobe Acrobat Sign. This powerful connection gives HR professionals the tools they need to eliminate paper, streamline compliance, and operate more efficiently across every stage of the employee lifecycle.

The Adobe Acrobat Sign + DynaFile integration creates an end-to-end digital document workflow, from signature collection to secure, organized file storage. Signed documents are automatically routed into DynaFile’s cloud repository. They are indexed and organized by employee and document type, making them instantly accessible, searchable, and audit-ready.

“We’re excited to offer our customers seamless e-Signature capabilities by integrating with Adobe Acrobat Sign,” said Brian McCleary, VP of Operations at DynaFile. “This powerful connection gives HR professionals the tools they need to eliminate paper, streamline compliance, and operate more efficiently across every stage of the employee lifecycle.”

Built for the Modern HR Department

Together, DynaFile and Adobe Acrobat Sign deliver a best-in-class solution that simplifies the management and e-Signature of essential HR documents, including:

New hire onboarding packets and offer letters

Employee policy acknowledgments and handbooks

I-9’s, W-4’s, and other tax documents

Benefits enrollment and change forms

Performance evaluations and disciplinary notices

Training records and compliance certifications

Employment contracts, NDAs, and separation agreements

Documents can not only be signed from any device, anywhere, but can now be easily and securely accessed by appropriate HR team members from anywhere, making this integration ideal for remote, hybrid, and distributed teams.

Compliant e-Signatures That Work Across Industries

DynaFile and Adobe Acrobat Sign bring enterprise-grade security and compliance to HR workflows across regulated industries such as healthcare, education, and finance. By combining the security features built into DynaFile and Adobe Acrobat Sign, HR departments can meet key compliance standards, including:

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (electronic records and signature compliance)

With built-in encryption, detailed audit trails, and automated compliance features, organizations can reduce risk while ensuring secure, legally binding digital transactions.

Compliance Made Even Easier with DynaFile

Once documents are signed via Adobe Acrobat Sign, DynaFile automatically files them in the appropriate folder, eliminating manual uploads and reducing the risk of misfiled paperwork. DynaFile’s compliance toolkit includes customizable document retention schedules, role-based access controls, and automated alerts for missing or expiring documents. Together, DynaFile and Adobe Acrobat Sign provide HR teams with a secure, fully digital solution to stay organized, compliant, and audit-ready.

“This integration brings together two trusted technologies to create a smarter, faster way to manage HR documentation,” added Brock Kane, VP of Sales and Marketing at DynaFile. “It’s a powerful upgrade for modern, digital-first HR teams.”

About DynaFile

For over 25 years, DynaFile has empowered HR teams to go paperless, improve compliance, and streamline employee file management. This cloud-based document management solution integrates seamlessly with leading HRIS and HCM platforms to provide a secure, centralized system for digital onboarding, document tracking, and long-term record retention. Trusted by HR leaders across industries, DynaFile features barcode scanning, automated workflows, and role-based access controls to keep your team organized, compliant, and audit-ready.

Learn more: www.dynafile.com

About Adobe Acrobat Sign

Adobe Acrobat Sign, part of Adobe Document Cloud, is a global leader in secure electronic signatures. Designed for ease of use, speed, and compliance, Adobe Acrobat Sign helps organizations digitally transform their document processes. With integrations across Microsoft, Salesforce, Workday, and now DynaFile, Adobe Acrobat Sign supports millions of users worldwide in creating efficient, legally binding, and fully auditable digital workflows.

Learn more: www.adobe.com/sign

Media Contact

Brock Kane, Blue Ribbon Technologies, 1 303-459-2078, bkane@dynafile.com, https://www.dynafile.com 

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SOURCE DynaFile

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