Business and Development - A Logical Partnership

[Jim Thaller]

I've been reading several discussions about the role of private business as related to development, and wanted to share some of my experiences as CEO of Talier Trading Group - a specialty food marketing company focused on the US and European mass supermarkets. Roughly six years ago, we made a conscious decision to begin focusing on emerging markets, and the results have been spectacular. While we have engaged in business activities in India, South America and Southeast Asia before, it was our work in Africa that prooved the most inspiring and tangible from a development standpoint. In short, my company works directly with African processed food manufacturers to create uniquely African products for an export market. This obviously has an inpact on job creation, farming outputs, etc., but more importantly, we've begun "branding" each African nation with its own culinary identity. The idea is that, one day, people will think of African countries in the same way they think of places like Italy, France, Thailand and India. While there are certainly challenges unique to Africa, our program has launched over five hundred products from thirteen African countries and generated millions of dollars in revenue. What has made this African program unique for us is the amount of cooperation needed. Without our relationships with organizations like the World Bank, USAID, UNDP, countless NGO's and government groups, these achievements would never have been possible. So, in answer to the question "how does private business effect development?"...my answer is that the partnership between NGO's, government organizations and private business is the only answer. NGO's and government groups lack the technical expertise to actually produce private sector results, while private companies lack the funding and on-the-ground support necessary. When it works, it is truly a match made in heaven. In 2009, I look forward to expanding our network of development partners, and achieving great things together. Thanks....

[Natalie]

Jim,
I really like your approach and I believe in the collaborative approach. That is why I have developed such models to promote businesses and social enterprises. Please take a look at our approach and let me know what you think. Our web site is undergoing some minor changes and it will be ready tomorrow.

Best,

Natalie Nasseri
Womenforgrowth

[Alyssa Horn]

Jim,

I admire your work and ideas. Seems like a very difficult task to get NGOs, government organizations, and private organizations on the same page. Do you know of other companies that have made progress into emerging markets in a similar fashion?

[Anand Sheombar]

As a foodie I really like this idea!

Of cource the continent of Africa has a diverse food cultures like other continents.

As a part time student, in my thesis study I am looking at (non-traditional) partnerships, thus PPP's, profit-onprofit, MNC-NGO etc.) and do find that there are mutual benefits for all stakeholders involved.

Keep us posted about the products marketed :-)

[ezgi cestepe]

I have been studying sociology and social policy for about 6 years. And through the studies we focus on is about the poverty mainly stems from capitalism and through social polices we may mitigate its effects. However, when it comes to Business Administration studies, the side of medal changes.

It is quite hard to pose the real picture; however it is also a fact that change is possible and we experience change in business also. However, is not it an oxymoron; business and development in the same phrase?

I am not the person who tries to make a provocation however, the existing changes does not sound something concrete for today but still holds hope and basic for future.

Let me come to civil society issues, many companies take benefit of Ngos activities for their own profitsOf course, there are many people who benefit from these implementations, however it is a short-run not a long run process.

The micro and macro credits given by IMF and World Bank, although sounds effective, in some sense they should be discussed deeply ( in terms of business and development).

This is what I introduce so far.

[OFONG PAULINE]

Jim,
My name is Pauline Ofong from Uganda I am a small scale farmer and business woman dealing in crafts. I agree with you, partnership between NGOs, Government organizations and private businesses would contribute to development and I will hasten to add The producers as a major stakeholder in this partnership. All said and done the people of Africa themeselves must want development and must be committed to development. Their involvement is crucial.
How do women fair in your programme?
Thanks, Pauilne

[Jim Thaller]

Hey Pauline,

I agree 100%.

Unfortunately, there isn't much transparency and accountability in our program so far. Women, in general, benefit from the program as far as employment, etc goes, but there is much to be done. We, as a private sector specialty food company, cannot implement all of the social guidelines we'd like. I wish we could. The NGO's and international organizations could, and we could tie it in as part of our program. This is a suggestion that has been addressed several times over.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Adam Luwisch]

It's a very interesting concept and one that I had never really thought of before. It seems that so many cultures have this established cultural identity, especially when you look at certain food products. It is very rare that an individual comes across a food product that is exported from Africa, and is seen as an African commodity. I'm sure it must be a challenge to convince governments and NGOs to fund markets such as Africa, but I suppose with enough persistence and work ethic anything is possible and seems as if you have a figured out a way to make the continent of Africa grow.

[Ochola Michael]

Adam,
I entirely agree with you, The challenge we Africna continents lack is technology to add value to the products and becuase of the different standards set by some developed countries that are "discuoraging" makes some African countries fail to not meet the limit. This therefore means African can export products in law values and this is tranformed by developed countries in their trade maks.

Also the continent of Africa are not vey entreprenueral proactive but reactive in nature. We have good policies in paper but not in practise.

Corruption in Africa is killing Business development in a sence that before you start a business their are several government offices to bribe/give money before it is approved or else you can not develop.

Africa has not yet though heavily of the market in Africa instead they have been affliated to the their colonial counter parts and colonialist for market which limites their capacity to develop as this markets have strings attached.

Michael

[Nshuti Rugerinyange]

Dear Michael,

You seem to have a point when you said that "developed countries set 'impossible standards' to limit (deliberately exclude) African countries from western markets but unfortunately you seem to blame Africans for colonial legacies. What you and many African intellectuals have unfortunately failed to realise is that Africa never gained independence - just a new turn in colonization.

Dictionary refers to independence as " freedom from control, influence, aid from others". Africa still depends on aid from others (colonizers). With aid, developed countries not only influences but controls what happens in Africa and are hence squarely responsible for corruption that is synonimous to Africa.

I think you are also right that Africa should think heavily on the market in Africa. But before that, African should look at development through the African lenses. They should see development as a stepwise-evolution process other than being allure to Washington DC or London sense of development.
For instance people in rural Africa need 'just water' not clean water. They need roads not necessarily tarmac. They need charcoal /wood fuel not gas, not electricity. But unfortunately, the likes of IMF, WB, USAID, DFID, SIDA would most probably consider a rural electrification BUT will NEVER, NEVER fund a would fuel project or valley-dam project for human water source.

Business is the way to go.

Cheers,

[Ochola Michael]

Dear Jim,

Thanks for the presentation, I do support the solution you have presented and also one presenter on transperency and capacity of all this parties. I have noticed in Uganda that private companies are alway efficient as they are profit oriented, skilled and forcust, government bodies are always associated to corruption, mismanagement of resources and this makes them laggards, while the NGOs most have a mission of help and most are non profit though they are efficient. I would like to deviate on technical expertise. NGOs have the technical expertise in thier field but consolidating efforts and cooordinating it is the problems as many NGOs tend to compete to impress donors other than impressing the the communities they serve.

I do agree with the other presentors and better late than Never. I am Ochola Michael from Uganda ( Northern Uganda a region that for the past twenty years was in war)