Unilever's commitment to developing markets
Earlier this month Unilever's London headquarters hosted the launch of the World Bank-International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Doing Business 2008 report, which assesses how easy it is to do business in 178 countries worldwide.
Unilever Group Chief Executive Patrick Cescau gave the introductory speech at the launch, which was jointly sponsored by Unilever, the World Bank, IFC, the UK government's Department for International Development, and Business Action for Africa.
In doing so he took the opportunity to point out Unilever's long heritage in and commitment to developing markets. He welcomed government ministers from Ghana, Kenya and Mauritius, and spoke of the company's long experience in Africa.
"We are a clear stakeholder in sustainable economic growth," he commented, "In Africa we have over 100 years of experience. Today, we have a business of some €2bn, manufacturing in 14 African countries and employing around 40,000."
But he also pointed out that Unilever’s commitment goes much further than pure economics.
Working in partnership
"We also have a wider engagement in the community and the environment, best exemplified in Africa by our sustainability and small-grower programmes... Beyond that we have relations with governments and other partners with whom we work to deliver tangible improvements."
Patrick went on to stress the importance of such links: "Partnership is of course the key theme for today… This is why I am particularly pleased that the World Bank Doing Business report for 2008 is having its European launch here today. It is a very practical way of mapping a country's growth potential.
But he concluded by stating that business cannot make progress alone: "For Unilever, a key part of our doing well in Africa is conditional on moving goods across the continent more quickly… which is in turn a question of local political will, governance and ownership. So the commitment of African governments to help create a better climate for business is welcome and crucial."
