Today in New York, the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, will launch the Global Business Call to Action Partnership. The BCTA was launched in May 2008, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. The new Partnership will take forward the BCTA internationally to facilitate private sector activities in developing countries in a sustainable way that boosts economic development. Growth accounts for 80% of the poverty reduction achieved since 1980. Douglas Alexander said: “I am pleased that companies like Yara, Map International and Ericsson have joined the Business Call to Action. Business has a vital role to play in reducing poverty and the involvement of these companies in the Business Call to Action will help accelerate progress towards increasing growth in developing countries and meeting the MDGs by 2015. This is a crucial year for businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations, faith groups and citizens. The time has come to step up activity to meet the MDGs and ensure a safer, developed and more prosperous world.”

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25 September 2008
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