5 May 2008

Department for International Development and United Nations Development Programme

Global business leaders unveil new plans to fight poverty

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Kemal Derviş, will today welcome more than 80 CEOs from some of the world’s largest companies to London to showcase new business initiatives to reduce poverty in the developing world. The Business Call to Action event will highlight initiatives by more than a dozen global companies, including Citi, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Microsoft, Sumitomo Chemical, Thomson Reuters and Vodafone – with a view to inspiring others to do the same.  

Over the next five years, the initiatives are expected to save almost half a million lives, create thousands of jobs, and benefit millions of poor people across Africa and Asia.  The initiatives are part of a concerted push to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that will enable poor people to access up to the minute information, money and business expertise as well as creating new business and employment opportunities.

President John Kufuor of Ghana and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will attend the event.

Gordon Brown said:

“This year must be a year of action if we are to tackle the development emergency we face.

“We know without an extraordinary effort we will fail, and to get the Millennium Development Goals back on track we will need everyone to play their part. Today’s event is about enlisting the support and expertise of global business to develop new and innovative ways to spread growth, prosperity and opportunity in poor countries across the world.

“This morning more than a dozen global companies are announcing new initiatives which use their unique business skills to solve problems on the ground and to transform people’s lives - and I hope to see many more companies join this effort in the run-up to the United Nations summit in September.”

At the UN in July 2007, the Prime Minister made a Call to Action to governments, businesses, NGOs and faith groups to focus resources and effort on delivering the MDGs by 2015, recognising that without a collective effort these goals will not be met.  Some of the world’s leading companies signed up to the Call to Action, and this event is the next step in that process. 

Kemal Derviş,  UNDP Administrator said:    

“In the race to achieve the MDGs, one of the greatest untapped resources is the private sector. Businesses are engines of growth and sustainable development.  Innovative business leaders, both in the North and the South, are changing the way that many businesses operate.  They are expanding beyond traditional business practices, to also focus on the needs of those locked out of the global market, bringing them in as partners in growth and wealth creation. Such creative approaches and partnerships are essential in catalysing vibrant new markets that can contribute to advancing inclusive growth and development.

“The Business Call to Action is not a one off event, but a commitment to speed up progress on the MDGs, to create a prosperous world for all.  In that spirit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, will convene, in September, a high-level meeting on the MDGs, bringing together world leaders, civil society and the private sector to help translate existing commitments into action and bolster the global partnership for development.”

 The Business Call to Action is not about philanthropy. It challenges companies to use their core business – whether it be manufacturing, finance, telecommunications  – in a way that contributes both to the MDGs and to their commercial success.   It aims to inspire CEOs and companies to realise that reducing poverty also makes good business sense.  By building a safer and more prosperous world, businesses are securing future commercial success.

 Plans are being put in place to monitor the commitments companies make.  By learning lessons on what works well for both businesses and poor communities, this can be replicated globally.

 The Business Call to Action is part of a major campaign called the Call to Action, which seeks to accelerate progress towards meeting the MDGs by 2015. During 2008 - a critical year for action on the MDGs - the campaign and its supporters aim to build momentum and galvanise initiatives from businesses, governments, NGOs, faith groups and civil society. A pivotal moment will be the UN Secretary General’s high-level event on the MDGs in New York on 25 September.

Citi

 

“Citi is pleased to support the Millennium Development Goals and Prime Minister Brown’s bold efforts towards meeting the 2015 deadline. Today we are proud to showcase Remit As You Earn, a remittance service that provides a secure and cost-effective means for employees in corporate and public sector organisations to send money to developing countries such as Jamaica, India and the Philippines.

 

“Remittances, worth about £122 billion to developing countries each year, are a crucial source of money to poor communities. Once the remittance is received, the money can provide income for families or start-up investment for small businesses that all help to create the next steps on the ladder towards a better life.”

 

- Michael Klein, Chairman of the Institutional Clients Group at Citi

 

 

Coca-Cola

 

“I firmly believe that business can have a very positive role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. As part of the Call to Action, we at The Coca-Cola system will continue to use the core of our operational expertise and a winning formula of our business success in Africa – a distribution system based on independent local entrepreneurs – to create more jobs, more prosperity, more entrepreneurship and skills and ultimately more sustainable communities.”

 

- Neville Isdell, CEO Coca Cola

 

 

Diageo

 

“Diageo has a long-standing commitment to Africa. It’s a great place to do business and continues to play a significant part in the growth of our company.

 

“The continent is benefiting from increased investment and greater stability, and business opportunities are on the rise. By developing our business in a sustainable way, we create value for our shareholders and economic advantage for the communities within which we work.”

 

- Paul Walsh, CEO Diageo

 

Microsoft

 

“Investment in Africa’s innovation infrastructure is key to spurring development, jobs and growth, all of which help advance the Millennium Development Goals. As a global technology leader, Microsoft is dedicated to helping individuals and communities around the globe achieve their goals and dreams through relevant, accessible, and affordable technologies.  Through these four new initiatives, we are delighted to partner with the next generation of African innovators and entrepreneurs.” 

 

- Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International

 

 

SABMiller

 

“Six thousand barley farmers in Rajasthan will become part of SABMiller’s supply chain in 2008. Business will always be a more effective development partner when it uses its core skills on initiatives that relate to its own business and sustainable markets”.

 

- Graham Mackay, Chief Executive, SABMiller

Sumitomo Chemical

 
 

“Sumitomo is expanding local production from East to West Africa which will generate over 5,000 new jobs and has the potential to save 400,000 lives. We will also explore the possibility of opening sewing and logistical facilities in neighbouring countries. We feel very lucky that we can do business while also helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”

 

- Mr Hiromasa Yonekura, President of Sumitomo Chemical

 

Thomson Reuters

 

“Reuters Market Light is a great example of how Thomson Reuters is committed to providing intelligent information and promoting transparency and integrity to financial markets around the world - in both developed and developing economies. Our relevant and localised information service in India helps farmers to make better commercial judgements and enhance their families’ incomes. We are proud to support the Millennium Development Goals and look forward to expanding this exciting news and pricing service into other developing markets around the globe.”

 

- Tom Glocer, Thomson Reuters CEO

 

Vodafone

 

“The remarkable growth of mobile technology has not only provided access to communications for millions but also has helped stimulate economic development in emerging markets through increasing access to basic financial services. Vodafone’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals is to ensure that we extend M-pesa, our money transfer service, to India within the next 12 months where it could reach up to 40 million customers.”

 

- Arun Sarin, CEO Vodafone