Global experts to explore ways to achieve MDGs

The World Marketing Summit (WMS), brainchild of marketing guru Prof. Dr. Philip Kotler, will see some of the most innovative minds from various industries exploring ways to achieve the UN's eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by integrating brand marketing with affirmative action to tackle socio-economic issues on a global scale.

Prof Philip Kotler

The Summit will be held from September 28-30 at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) in Malaysia. The three-day, dialogue-filled, 'think-tank' congregation of minds will potentially reshape global brand communications and corporate responsibility.

Founder of Istiqaama, the Supporting Communications Agency for WMSM 2013, Thanzyl Thajudeen said that Sri Lanka has exhibited a tremendous achievement in its MDGs which were set in 2000.

''Today, Sri Lanka has eradicated extreme poverty, promoting education, equality and mitigating the effects of environmental degradation through the MDGs, with a marketing recipe strategised around science, technology and innovation,'' he said.

''The WMSM 2013 will share a vast depth of knowledge in reshaping and nurturing corporate responsibility for the betterment of society. We look forward to the participation of Sri Lankan leaders at the summit,'' Thajudeen said.

In 2010, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the achievement of the eight MDGs by 2015 was unlikely, exhorting that a paradigm shift was needed. WMS aims to leverage Brand Marketing to cement the relationship between profit and purpose, concurrently elevating marketing from a corporate tool to a social equaliser.

WMS Malaysia 2013 will achieve two goals. It will provide a roadmap on how to meet the eight UN MDGs, resulting in a signed declaration charting marketing's role in improving eight billion lives.

This is a collective representation of the world's best marketeers, sharing insights and case studies of how purpose can be injected into a company's DNA, elevating consumer trust in turn reducing marketing investment and maintaining the bottom-line.

The summit features a alliance of thought leaders including Prof.Dr. Philip Kotler, Founder of Doctors Without Borders, Minister Dr. Bernard Kouchner, Director of UNESCO Asia and Pacific, Prof. Dr. Hubert Gjizen, Chairman of the Development Alternatives Group, Dr Ashok Khosla and 'Nobel' prize winner for environment and CEO of Al-Bashayer Investment Company, Ms Sara Ismail Mohamed, Founder of Barefoot College, Sanjit 'Bunker' Roy and Chairman of the Dream Asia, Asian Football Confederation, Prince Ali Bin Al-Huseein of Jordan.