World Business Council for Sustainable Development...makes statement...

World Business Council for Sustainable Development members have issued a statement of intent about finding better ways to do business. Now we watch for action.

Through the statement, the business leaders, all members of the Development Focus Area Core Team (FACT), pledge “to play our part in building capacity and empowering people so they have the opportunity to move out of poverty and into the formal economy.”

Intending to help create new businesses, new markets, new suppliers, new employees and new customers among the world's low-income segment, the FACT members strongly believe that “if these efforts are to be substantial and sustainable, they must also be profitable. Our major contribution to society will therefore come through our core business activities.”

While business is the engine of economic growth, it also needs a favorable investment climate to scale up its contribution to development. The statement highlights the following priorities for collaborative action between business, government and civil society: a fair and competitive global market that is non-discriminatory, effective legal and regulatory frameworks, support for small and medium enterprises and investments in core infrastructure.

With this statement the business leaders invite government and civil society leaders “to work with us to create an environment of mutual advantage where business success goes hand in hand with successful societies the world over.”

Some of the signatory members include senior managers from AES Corp, Anglo American, BP,GE, Toyota, ane Unilever.

Through its Development Focus Area, the WBCSD is seeking to:

Raise awareness of the business contribution to development, helping business and non-business stakeholders understand what is possible by providing case studies, guides and tools that advance the understanding of what business can and cannot do to address development challenges and opportunities.

Advocate for improvements to the investment climate working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to create a more enabling business environment and seek out synergies between official development assistance and foreign direct investment.

Move into action – working with WBCSD members, its Regional Network partners and other stakeholders to broker new business ventures that are both good business and good for development. A key element in this work is a partnership agreement with Netherlands development agency SNV to broker real and sustainable business in the Andean and Central American regions of Latin America.

“Beyond a narrow range of experts, companies now need to get their broad employee base engaged and motivated to work towards sustainable development in their daily jobs and develop their ability to interact meaningfully with a range of key stakeholder groups.” Cristina Garci a-Orcoyen, CEO, Fundacion Entorno-BCSD Spain

The regional BCSDs (Business Council for Sustainable Development) and partner organizations, extending from Europe, Africa and the Americas to Asia and Oceania, are united by their shared commitment to provide business leadership for sustainable development in their respective country or region.

US Business Council for Sustainable Development
Andy MANGAN, Executive Director
Tel: +1 (512) 892 6411
Fax: +1 (512) 892 6443
E-mail: Mangan@usbcsd.org
Web site: www.usbcsd.org