The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI) is bringing the crucial role of the private sector into focus, when it comes to the creation of jobs and economic growth in the poorest regions of the world.
Danish companies are investing more than ever before in developing countries and their activities are contributing to the economic growth and the transfer of know-how to countries that urgently need to get on the path of development. The private sector instruments in the Danish development policy enable Danish companies to take part in projects and thereby transfer knowledge on modern technology, management, marketing and working methods to countries that are in need of this know-how.
The role of the private sector
The perception of the role that the private sector can play in the development of third world countries has changed dramatically in the past years. Today, there is a wide-spread recognition of the importance of a developed private sector in order to obtain growth and reduce poverty. According to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, it will be impossible to attain the so-called 2015 UN millennium development goals if the private sector is not a part of this effort.
The main challenge is therefore to make the official development aid work hand in hand with private investment. Development aid should be used to build indigenous capacity in the developing countries, so they will be able to attract foreign direct investment.
B2B-programme
Within this framework, aid programmes such as the B2B-programme, play an important role in establishing commercial connections in the private sector between the developing countries and the industrialised world. In co-operation with Danish companies, this programme is undertaking a concrete effort to integrate developing countries into the global economy.