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pro in today's global economy
many companies operate in developing countries but many
a missing significant opportunities for growth within these markets themselves
some companies have found ways to create sustainable livelihoods
that help people in developing countries out of poverty so they can become
active in the world economy with earning potential
and spending power I'll the pace of change
in society and global markets requires a new way of thinking
today's developing countries will be
tomorrow's emerging markets but what are sustainable livelihoods
wife has some major businesses on the world stage thinking this way
what's in it for them and what's in it for the people in the developing
countries they were quick
much of the developing world
is still facing the challenges of growing populations
few and diminishing resources political
and local unrest these communities
lack some all up the essential ingredients
for a sustainable livelihood clean water
sanitation energy infrastructure
education health kick
businesses can engage with developing countries to create sustainable
livelihoods
the not only deliver basic needs but also bring opportunities for the
country's
and the businesses themselves up it makes good business sense
to find ways to help people out of poverty to increase their earning
potential and spending power
so that they become tomorrow's customers employees
and business partners creating sustainable livelihoods
requires strategic thinking about how a business engages with a developing
country
the vision must be shared throughout the company
from strategic to operational levels and externally
by governments and communities and people must be given
license for innovation in Mozambique
a project to build and operate an aluminium smelter
has been running away but has created sustainable livelihoods
for many local people at BHP Billiton's Moselle plant
clear guidelines were set out maximize you serve local labor
provide skills training actively encourage you serve local contractors
allocate the proportion of contracts
to local SMEs promote
s any training construction and operation at this plant
required a high degree of technical precision and skill
however instead of relying on expatriate firms
BHP Billiton decided instead to build capacity locally
local companies offered free commercial
and technical training to overcome their lack of experience on large projects
Moselle has also engaged in widespread
health awareness campaigns and helped in the growing and marketing
local crops in this way the company has brought jobs
and prosperity to help many look forward to a better future
and it has secured its own future
by creating a stable healthy workforce
DaimlerChrysler have helped to create sustainable livelihoods
through the operations have them mercedes-benz subsidiary
in the mercedes-benz s-class more than 30
interior components consisted up to 75 percent natural fibers
increasingly DaimlerChrysler is making components
from renewable and totally recyclable raw materials
hey in Brazil for example
they are making headrests for commercial vehicles out with coconut fiber
the blame a project resulted from collaboration
with the Brazilian University to Potter villages
in one of the poorest areas have Brazil now produce these headrests locally
previously discarded
as a waste product the coconut fiber is a lighter and stronger material
than plastic or carbon fibers and also saves
5 percent in production costs so DaimlerChrysler
has found a better material and nearly 1,000 families
have increased the income by up to nine hundred percent
by supplying a car manufacturer with components
from a renewable totally recyclable natural resource
BP
is another company but knows that sustainable development
can bring benefits cool round in partnership
with the governments have the Philippines and Australia they have
worked with remote rural communities
to help them develop economically and socially BP Solar
has installed solar equipment that provides electricity for lighting
pumps for water refrigeration for vaccines
and television
but they didn't stop with the solar power they also gave local people
the power to help themselves through helping them develop
enterprises and organize ways of raising money to pay for the upkeep on the
system's
half a million Filipinos a benefiting from sustainable livelihoods
and BP benefits from a new and previously undiscovered market
so what are the lessons to be learned the World Business Council for
sustainable development
believes that we've only just begun to see businesses capturing this new
opportunity
this approach is not new to everyone
but many are yet to recognize the growth potential
from this new way of thinking from really achieving a balance
a social and environmental benefits with real
economic progress these three examples
only scratched the surface the numerous opportunities that exist
there are still many innovations and new business models
to be identified