Australia donates AUD 3m to bolster exports by Pacific women
Women entrepreneurs in the Pacific region are to benefit from increased export and income opportunities following a funding agreement signed yesterday by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and AusAID, an Australian overseas aid programme. The contribution from the Australian Government through AusAID, is part of a 10-year AUD 320m initiative by Australia to improve the political, economic and social opportunities for women in the Pacific region. Through ITC’s ‘Women and Trade Programme’ the project will link women entrepreneurs from the Pacific to regional and international markets, enabling them to increase their exports. (International Trade Centre)
Policy & Research
NGOs collaborate on ‘Guide for Sustainable Sourcing of Agricultural Raw Materials’
Seven global organisations, including the International Trade Centre and Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, jointly launched the world’s first ‘Practitioner’s Guide to Sustainable Sourcing of Agricultural Raw Materials’. The idea behind the guide is to ensure a secure supply of crops long-term, which must be grown and sourced sustainably, taking full account of environmental, social and economic considerations. The guide is an innovative tool that captures best practices and experiences from global corporations in order to empower managers to build and roll out sustainable agriculture sourcing strategies effectively. (Sustainable Brands)
Developing countries imperiled by climate change
The rise of developing nations such as Brazil, China and India in the last decade has cut poverty, but failure to act on climate change could reverse those gains, a UN report said on Thursday. Developing nations are now driving economic growth, helping to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and bringing billions more into a new middle class. However, the report explained that lack of action against climate change could halt or reverse human development progress in these countries, pushing up to three billion people into extreme poverty by 2050 unless environmental disasters are prevented. (UN News, Raw Story)
Supply Chain
Greenpeace welcomes conservation pilot from Indonesian palm oil producer
Greenpeace Indonesia welcomed the launch of a forest conservation pilot project by Indonesia’s largest palm oil producer, Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), to protect high carbon stock forests and called on other palm oil producers to take similar action. GAR will roll out its ‘Forest Conservation Policy’ to work with local communities and government to conserve forested areas in all concessions that it is currently developing. “GAR’s initiative is crucial for finally breaking the link between palm oil and deforestation,” said Bustar Maitar, Head of Greenpeace South East Asia’s Indonesia Forest Campaign. (Dominican Today, Jakarta Globe)
Bribery Act restricts UK suppliers overseas
The ability of suppliers to grow and develop through overseas contract opportunities is being restricted by the UK Bribery Act, according to a House of Lords Committee. The report Roads to Success, published on Friday by the Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises, said while the legislation had enhanced the UK’s reputation in terms of ethical business standards, it had damaged some companies’ business prospects. The report suggested the disparity between the ways UK companies are required to do business as a result of the Act, compared with conventions in markets such as Brazil and China puts them at a disadvantage. (Supply Management)
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