https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / African News RSS ← Back
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Embed Video

Inclusive business key to sustainable growth

Inclusive business key to sustainable growth

10th May 2013

By: Natasha Odendaal
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

  • Realising Africa's wealth - Building inclusive businesses for shared prosperity - Large file
    Download
    4.74 MB
Sponsored by

Inclusivity within sub-Saharan African business is key to boosting economic growth and sustainable development, as well as to ensure the benefits were widespread, a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows.

The report, titled ‘Realizing Africa's wealth - Building inclusive businesses for shared prosperity’, which was released at the World Economic Forum on Africa, on Friday, noted that, involving low-income communities in markets and businesses across Africa was essential.

Advertisement

Collaborative – and amplified – efforts were required to support businesses that were inclusive, through incentives, information and investment schemes, while encouraging business environments that provide opportunities for all potential entrepreneurs, consumers, employees or producers in Africa.

“We need young entrepreneurs and innovators as drivers of inclusive businesses. We need organisations that are willing to take up the roles of catalysts, supporters and funders of inclusive businesses,” the UNDP said.

Advertisement

Inclusive business provided low-income citizens access to opportunities for income, basic goods and services and choice – effectively creating scaffolding between low-income communities and the benefits of Africa’s rapid economic growth.

However, constraints in the business environment and a lack of local support institutions, such as market research firms, credit bureaus, incubators, value chain facilitators and venture capital firms, hampered attempts to grow larger-scale enterprises in low-income regions and expand their impact and reach.

The report tabled four support mechanisms required for the support of inclusive business.

These included providing businesses with the awareness, knowledge, technology and know-how required to operate in low-income regions, and enabling implementation support, such as logistics, transactional, marketing and communication and microbusiness support and assistance services.

Financial motivation included incentives for firms engaging low-income communities, as well as investment and financial backing for businesses venturing into low-income markets.

Download a copy of the report above (note: large file)

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now