COSP18 Event: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Economic Growth

The event, co-created and supported by the United Nations Office of India and G3ICT, alongside EnAble India, centered on the concept of "Global Disability Economic Alliance: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Economic Growth." Hosting this side event at COSP18 marked a significant milestone for EnAble India, offering an opportunity to present its work on an international platform and engage with a global audience.

The event had three key objectives:

• Initiating a Global Discourse: The event aimed to initiate a worldwide discussion on a "value-based economy for persons with disabilities," recognizing their significant economic potential as valuable customers. This built upon the remarkable positive changes and greater acceptance fostered by the UNCRPD since its ratification.
• Strategic Dialogue on Inclusive Growth: Through a distinguished panel, the program sought to foster strategic discussions on advancing disability-inclusive economic growth. The goal was to emphasize how a value-based approach benefits not only society but also businesses, and to highlight the necessity of providing a level playing field for persons with disabilities to realize their economic value.
• Highlighting Transformative Initiatives: The event served as a platform to highlight innovative approaches and the integration of the rights-based model of disability with a value-based model. It showcased the vision to create a transformative impact globally by ensuring demand and supply match in the disability sector.

The one-hour and fifteen-minute program featured a distinguished panel of speakers:

• Mr. Dipesh Sutariya, Chairman and Managing Director of EnAble India, started the discussion by welcoming everybody in the program, gave an overview of the work that EnAble India is doing for the last 25 years, introduced the concept and the key expectations in continuation to the program. In his speech he emphasized the crucial need for demand and supply to match in the disability sector. During the panel discussion, he also put out a message about the originating point of value-based economic model for persons with disabilities.
• Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Chair of the Working Group that drafted the CRPD and often referred to as the "father of UNCRPD," delivered the opening address, emphasizing the timely need for a value-based economy for persons with disabilities.
• A panel discussion was moderated by Sayomdeb Mukherjee, Lead of International Projects at EnAble India. Panelists included:
  • Sara Basson from Google highlighted the importance of businesses adopting a value-based economy as a sound business case.
  • Dr. Rupam Sarmah, Grammy and Oscar-nominated director and an expert in emerging technologies like Generative AI, underscored the necessity of providing a level playing field for people with disabilities.
  • Iain McKinnon, CEO of GDI Hub, focused on the role of innovation in popularizing the value-based economy model.
  • Deepti Samant Raja, a Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, shared insightful thoughts on developing a global disability economic alliance and its long-term benefits.
  • Mohammed A. Loutfy, Capacity Building and Advocacy Director at G3ICT, spoke about the critical importance of integrating a narrative of a value-based economic model.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Mukherjee articulated the evolutionary pattern of the disability rights movement and shared his vision of integrating the rights-based model of disability with a value-based model to create a transformative impact globally.

Ms. Debolina Samanta, International Relations Strategist at EnAble India, served as master of ceremonies for the event, and Ms. Francesca Cesa Bianchi, Vice President of Institutional Relations at G3ict, delivered the closing remarks and vote of thanks.

EnAble India’s participation in COSP18 contributed to advancing the global conversation on disability-inclusive economic growth. Through the Global Disability Economic Alliance initiative, the organization aims to strengthen international cooperation, promote inclusive economic practices, and support the participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development. This engagement also reflects India’s broader commitment to disability inclusion and its efforts to contribute to inclusive growth strategies within the Global South.

UN WebTV recording: Watch here