Anglo American plc, one of the world’s largest mining groups, recently unveiled a new enterprise development venture that will help to generate more jobs, support entrepreneurship and strengthen local economies in South Africa. This commitment is a pledge to the Business Call to Action – a global initiative that challenges companies to apply their core business expertise, technology and innovative spirit to tackle poverty and contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, eight anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.
Anglo American seeks to establish 12 enterprise development hubs in high unemployment areas in South Africa, within the ongoing Anglo Zimele initiative, Anglo American’s enterprise development and investment fund in South Africa, which has created numerous sustainable, commercially viable enterprises and empowered entrepreneurs to operate in the mainstream economy. The new venture is expected to create 25,000 new jobs in up to 1,500 new businesses across South Africa over the next seven years.
Anglo American will provide financing for small business start-up funds targeting the most vulnerable segments of society, in addition to providing mentoring and access to supply chain opportunities. Looking to the future, Anglo American will also seek to further increase its enterprise development activities in Chile and Brazil.
Cynthia Carroll, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: "We are delighted that the expansion of Anglo American’s long-established Anglo Zimele programme has been recognised by the Business Call to Action and we are continuing to review further opportunities to grow this successful and enormously valuable community program."
"Long term economic growth is vital to the fight against global poverty and business investment is vital to building economic growth," said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). "Today, business leaders are rewriting the value equation, to show that true worth comes not only from profits but from making a positive difference."
More information:
Read the press release of 27 January 2010
Watch a brief introductory video on Business Call to Action
From 1997 to 2002, I was Project Co-ordinator, Small Business Development, Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Let me know if I can help.
Don Nott
Retired Managing Director of engineering group, now living in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal.
Posted by: Don Nott | March 08, 2010 at 07:35 PM