Business Opportunities
and Sustainable Development-Partnership Strategies
Indonesia, 3-5 September
2001
Introduction
Over the last decade there has been substantial growth
in the role of multilateral companies in the marketplace. At the same
time public utilities have been privatized in many countries and the
role of governments in delivery of programs has changed significantly.
The use of partnerships, particularly with business to deliver effective
action has therefore emerged as a key aspect of implementation of sustainable
development. Whilst government, international agencies and major groups
have sucessfully engaged in a matrix of bilateral and multilateral partnerships,
the ground rules for such partnership remain at an early state of development.
As business activities provide the major mechanism for technology transfer
and foreign direct investment, a key goal for all stakeholders is the
alignment of private investment with the objectives of sustainable development.
This may be achieved through a variety of partnership arrangements from
policy setting to joint projects.
The need for joint activities or partnership has, in
the context of the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2001, assumed
greater significance in the last ten years. This has arisen partly
because of the changes in economic circumstances brought about by globalization
and the privatization agenda of many governments and the changing role
of business as a potential delivery mechanism for many public initiatives.
Another important factor has been the increasing role of business and
non-government organizations in the decision-making processes at all
levels of government in many countries.
The Earth Summit 1992 represented a great step forward
by the global community in reaching consensus on the need for a new
approach to economic and social development and environmental protection.
World leaders agreed on new principles for sustainable development to
guide future activities and set out a global action plan. There was
explicit recognition that actions had to be taken by all parties i.e.,
governments, major groups and communities.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development 2001 will
review what has been achieved in a practical way over the past decade
to alleviate poverty and achieve a more equitable sharing of the benefits
of economic growth in such a way as to protect environmental, social
and cultural values of all nations.
Social and economic indicators show clearly, however,
that the gap between rich and poor and the haves and have-nots has widened
both within some national boundaries and between nations. Environmental
indicators suggest that progress has been made on some fronts such as
on chemicals management and ozone protection, but climate change, desertification
and deforestation continue to threaten biodiversity and the life support
systems on which all humanity depends.
The principles of sustainable development have stood
the test of time. The challenge that remains is to understand why sustainable
development is being put into practice by only some governments and
non-governmenet organizations and to find practical ways to operationalize
there principles. In this context a major factor to be considered in
discussions leading up to the Summit will be a framework for bilateral
and multilateral partnership between government, business and civil
society to ensure that all available resources are applied to global
problems in the most effective manners.
Proposal
During 2001 governments and major groups will be engaging
in diverse range of activities and dialogue as part of the preparations
for the Johannesburg Summit. These activities will focus on both the
substantive issues of concern to the international community and the
process through which measures may be taken to address global problems.
The issue of partnerships is expected to be raised in many of these
dialogues, although there are no meetings proposed that would focus
solely on this matter therefore this proposed forum represents a significant
oppotunity for a formal discussion on one key aspect of partnerships
i.e., government-business partnership. In view of the expected focus
on partnerships leading up to the Summit, the Forum may be first important
step in exploration of new business opportunities that may be available
including delivery of programs, and which are consistent with public
policies on sustainable development.
The Forum will be held on 3-5 September 2001 back to
back with the CSC 10 Bureau meeting that will be held in Indonesia.
The Bureau meeting that will be held in Indonesia. The Bureau meeting
itself will be an important event in the planning for the Summit, particularly
within the East Asia region. This would provide an opportunity for
the Bureau members to engage with industry leaders to gain a better
appreciation of industry views on the opportunities and constraints
to wider use of partnerships and facilitate an understanding of how
these issues may be taken forward in the context of planning for the
Summit.
The Forum could take place over two and a half days
and would review national and regional experience with busines/government
partnerships taking into account global activities. Based on this experience
the Forum could suggest measures to promote a wider adoption of partnership
arrangements.
Objectives
The objectives of the Forum are:
- Review recent national, regional and global approaches
to private sector and government partnership to identify useful models
and approaches and the key elements of successful partnership.
- Identify ideas and business opportunities for application
of new technologies to achieve environmental and social development
goals.
- Identity measures that governments could consider
to facilitate the wider practice of partnerships and minimize constrainsts
and barriers.
- Prepare recommendations to regional forums and to
the CSD Preparatory meetings.
The agenda for the Forum would cover the above issues.
Short background papers aimed at stimulating discussion would be prepared
for the Forum which would operate primarity in plenary mode although
it might be useful to consider breakout groups on specific topics.
Two possible working groups could be established to consider issues
associated with identification of:
- ideas and business opportunities for application
of new technologies to achieve environmental and social development
goals; and
- measures that governments could consider to facilitate
the wider practice of partnerships and minimize constraints and barriers.
The report of the Forum would be submitted to the Asia
Pacific Regional Intergovernmntal Preparatory Committee (October/November
2001) and could be drawn on in the preparation of the Secretary-General’s
Report. It would also be available for consideration at the global
thematic roundtables as well as at the global inter-governmental Preparatory
Committee meetings.
Participation
Participation in the Forum would focus on, but not be
limited to, East and South East Asia and Australia and New Zealand.
The Forum would primarily involve participation of high-level parsons
from governments and private sector in the region, along with representatives
from other major groups with experience in government/busines partnership.
The Forum would consider macro policy issues rather than technical issues
with a possible outcome being a set of measures on partnerhips with
particular relevance to the region (and that might be adopted by the
region in due couse), but that would also have global interest and
application.
All members of the Bureau would atend the Forum, primarily
in an observing capacity.
The core participants might be:
- Ministers of Senior Government officials from industry
and environment portfolios.
- CEOs of companies based in the region or multi-national
companies with signifficant interest in the region;
- Ministers or Senior Government officials from industry
and environment portfolios in developing countries;
- Directors of business forums and associations within
the region (i.e. within a country government/private sector partnerships
(as a guide participants would be drawn from those major groups identified
in Agenda 21).
Various regional and international organizations are
also expected to attend in a resource/observing capacity but would also
be able to participate in the discussions. Such organizations could
include. The UN Global Compact office, WBCSD, ICC, Asia Development
Bank. The World Bank. ESCAP and Sub-regional organization such as ASEAN.
Venue
Hotel BOROBUDUR
Jalan Lapangan Banteng Selatan,
PO Box 1329, Jakarta, Indonesia
Contact Person:
Ms. Lisa Medianti
Tel: (62-21) 380-5555 ext. 74007, Fax. (62-21)
386-5152
Hotel special rate:
US$ 85 net per night for a superior room (incl.
breakfast)
US$ 95 net per night for a deluxe room (incl.
breakfast)
Contacts:
United Nations
Mr. Gerry Morvell
Executive Policy Advisor
Secretariat of Johannesburg Summit
Phone: (212) 0963-4669
Fax: (212) 963-4260
E-mail: Morvell@un.org
Indonesia-Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United
Nations
Mr. Ngurah Swajaya
First Secretary
Phone: (212) 972-8333
Fax: (212) 972-9780
E-mail: Swajaya@hotmail.com or, nswajaya@indonesianmission-ny.org
Indonesia-Jakarta
Ms. Retno Marsudi
Indonesian National Committee,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Phone: (62-21) 384-8626
Fax: (62-21) 385-7315
E-mail: retnodh@hotmail.com
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