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UN To Fight Poverty With Help of Business

Edited By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze

Helen Clark, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today opened a new centre to encourage the private sector to take a greater role in anti-poverty efforts and create more jobs.

Clark opened the UNDP International Centre for Private Sector in Development in Istanbul, Turkey, It was the second day of her four-day visit.

"We can help connect local, national, and global actors, and identify approaches which will create value for business and advance Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) progress," Miss Clark said at the opening, adding that Turkey's contribution to international development makes it an ideal location for the institution.

Miss Clark said the private sector has a critical role to play, to foster inclusive growth and development.

"UNDP sees many companies making conscious decisions to purchase locally, thereby helping communities to grow small businesses from the micro level and up and generate new jobs and livelihoods."

Miss Clark underlined the global importance of inclusive and sustainable growth and development, to engage communities and prevent the kinds of protests that have swept across a number of States in the Middle East and North Africa recently,

"People in country after country are calling not only for new freedoms and an end to injustice, but also for the chance to earn a decent wage and improve their standard of living," she said. "To meet their aspirations, countries need dynamic and competitive businesses creating jobs and spurring innovation."