The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the 17th of which is “Partnerships for the goals,” namely: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Under this major goal, there are 19 targets, the 17.1 of which is “Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection.”

●Current Situation

The World

A huge disparity in GDP among countries around the world

According to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook in April 2024, the world GDP is estimated at US$109.53 trillion. In 2024, the GDP will be US$28.78 trillion in the United States, while it will be US$18.53 trillion in China, US$4.59 trillion in Germany, US$4.11 trillion in Japan, US$3.93 trillion in India, US$3.49 trillion in the United Kingdom, US$3.13 trillion in France, US$2.33 trillion in Brazil and Italy, and US$2.24 trillion in Canada.

Source: International Monetary Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury

China

China’s government revenue decreases

In the first half of 2024, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) was 61,683.6 billion yuan, and government revenue was 11,591.3 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 2.8%. In terms of central and local governments, in the first half of the year, the central government’s general public budget revenue was 5,001.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 7.2%; and the local governments’ general public budget revenue was 6,590.2 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.9%. In terms of tax and non-tax revenue, in the first half of the year, the national tax revenue was 9,408.0 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 5.6%; and non-tax revenue was 2,183.3 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.7%.

Graph: International Monetary Fund

The World

Citi group serves low-income areas and communities in crisis

Through strategic grantmaking, the Citi Foundation promotes economic progress in low-income communities around the world, focusing on programs that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Foundation’s “more than philanthropy” approach leverages the expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill the mission and drive thought leadership and innovation.

Photo: Citi group

Citi and the Citi Foundation support those affected by disasters and humanitarian crises, including their colleagues, clients and customers, as well as local community members. Throughout 2023, they supported relief and recovery efforts around the world, including immediate assistance and long-term reconstruction after the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco. Their support in Ukraine continued, with the Citi Foundation providing funding to assist displaced families in Poland, and for the humanitarian response in Ukraine. Their colleagues in Poland, Spain and Luxembourg prepared school supplies for displaced children, among other volunteering efforts. In 2023, the Citi Foundation supported relief efforts for communities affected by the humanitarian crisis in Israel and the Middle East. These efforts included support and emergency grants to provide medical and food assistance for displaced people across several impacted countries in the Middle East. Citi colleagues donated additional funds through dedicated nonprofit-led giving portals.

Source: Citi group

Google funds underrepresented founders and provides AI technical support

Established in 2020, the Google for Startups Founders Funds have provided more than US$50 million to support underrepresented founders. The goals of the funds are to help promising founders grow their businesses and ultimately, to create generational wealth. Google has supported 600+ founders who have gone on to raise more than US$500 million in follow-on venture capital.

In addition to equity-free cash awards, Founders Funds recipients receive ongoing Google mentorship, Google Cloud credits, and product support to help them navigate every stage of their startup journey.

Google is committed to making AI accessible to educators and students. Gemini, an AI chatbot, will be available to teen students in over 100 countries, free of charge. Read Along in Classroom, now a Google Workspace for Education service, helps students get real-time support with the help of AI. Google Classroom enables differentiated instruction with features informed by LearnLM, a new family of models fine-tuned for learning. Chromebook Plus, starting at US$350, brings Gemini and other productivity features to teachers and staff. Google Vids, a collaborative video creation app, will have a version without generative AI exclusively for students and educators with Google Workspace for Education Plus later in 2024.

China

State Grid undertakes international power grid projects and local poverty alleviation practices

State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) undertakes the construction of backbone energy networks in developing countries and regions, effectively solving the problem of “insufficient blood supply” in terms of electricity, promoting local economic and social development and the rational use of electric energy. The company continue to deepen international capacity cooperation, with the cumulative contract value of overseas engineering contracting and equipment exports exceeding US$50 billion, and export advanced technology and talents to help the progress of the power industry and the upgrading of the energy industry chain. The construction of international power grid projects guides local poor community residents to get out of poverty and become rich through the implementation of photovoltaic poverty alleviation, construction of local factories and other targeted assistance projects. SGCC provides jobs and technical training for local people to enhance the endogenous motivation and sustainability of poverty reduction. 

During the construction and operation of the ±800 kV DC UHV project of Belo Monte Phase II in Brazil, State Grid Brazil Holding S.A. went deep into the impoverished communities through which the project line passed, carried out actual investigations and research, and implemented well digging, water extraction and “Plan of Action for Malaria Control (PACM)” in accordance with local conditions based on China’s poverty alleviation experience. It provided 692 sets of medical equipment and devices, trained 99 local disease control specialists, and helped solve local health problems. It helped build a juice processing and production plant, carried out technical training, and paved the way for industrial poverty alleviation and wealth creation. It established the Quilombola Cultural Memorial Hall to preserve collective historical and cultural heritage and enhance community cultural confidence. It renovated 10 schools, improved the educational environment, and helped the local area get out of development difficulties.

Source: State Grid Corporation of China

China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) actively shares development achievements with the communities, brings advanced technologies, outstanding talents, and stable investment to the project sites, and actively promotes the development of the local clean energy industry. They adhere to local management, actively carry out local procurement, provide more employment opportunities and more tax contributions to the local area, and devote themselves to the local community’s economic prosperity.

Community welfare funds have been established to contribute to local communities’ cultural education, health, medical care, skills training and other public welfare undertakings, and improve the welfare of local community residents. CGN supports and encourages employees to participate in various public welfare activities, and provides employees with volunteer service leave.

Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of CGN, has allocated 40 acres of buffer zone around the Kedah Power Plant in Malaysia to farmers to grow pineapples and other crops, which are managed by the Kuala Ketil District Farmers Association. After the harvest, the pineapples and other crops are sold in neighboring towns such as Penang and Alor Setar. The planting project is expected to generate an average profit of 60,000 ringgit per cycle.

Edra has been working with the Malacca Investment Development Corporation, the Machap Jaya Community Service Center, Women of Will and other organizations to continue to carry out a number of assistance operations for vulnerable groups. 

CGN Swakop Uranium continues to donate food to the poor to ensure that children in Namibia’s coastal communities receive the necessary nutritional supplements. In January 2023, the company helped Namibia fight floods.

Source: China General Nuclear Power Corporation

●Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change while ensuring that no one is left behind.