OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF GROWING INCLUSIVE MARKETS IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CIS PROJECT

27 April  2010, Astana -  United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan conducts official launch of the Growing Inclusive Markets in Eastern Europe and CIS project. The Project in Kazakhstan will foster partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders to facilitate development of inclusive markets - markets that involve poor as producers, suppliers and wage employees (on supply side) and as customers and users of affordable goods and services (on demand side).

Inclusive markets are beneficial for both: the businesses and the poor. For the businesses, engagement in an inclusive business model means new markets, innovations and stronger local supply chains, while the poor have the chance to enter the formal market economy and benefit from sustainable earnings, greater empowerment and higher productivity. Main goal of the event is to acquaint participants on the project, its purpose, approaches and mechanisms. Moreover, discussion of pipeline inclusive business ideas such as milk collection from small scale milk producers through establishment of milk collection centers, enhancing value chain in honey production, provision of affordable telecommunication services for the visually impaired and other projects.

The project in Kazakhstan is a part of the global initiative aimed at finding business led solutions to poverty. Growing Inclusive Markets has been implemented to date in more than fifteen countries, and stimulated significant contribution of private sector to human development. Along with Kazakhstan the Regional GIM initiative is implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Uzbekistan in partnership with Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA).

More information on the Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative could be found at:
• Growing Inclusive Markets: www.growinginclusivemarkets.org
• UNDP Eastern Europe & the CIS: http://europeandcis.undp.org/poverty/psd