UNA - Global Business Partnership

November 24th 2008

Business partnership in a political scene is a topic I am highly interested. In this meeting, as arranged by Alison Williams, we discussed globalisation and individuals who are against MNEs doing work abroad. We also had a close look at the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which members of the UN are falling behind on.

Personally, I believe activists need to put pressure on MNEs, as well as the government, to perform duties of social responsibility in the host country they are active in. However, journalist like Naomi Klein and Mark Thomas are renowned for anti-globalisation movements and articles about how businesses like Coca Cola and Nestle as examples, are in fact causing more harm than good. Surely we should concentrate on teaching these business' to help the local community improve their status and development rather than force business' to be closed off from helping the community and further their own interest?

Gordon Brown had initiated the "World Business and Development" award to encourage business' to call for positive action. However an award is only a surface acknowledgment to supposed 'good work' business' claim they are doing... is that enough? Developed countries are putting gross and unfair subsidies on their export making their product cheaper from those coming from poorer countries ... where is the justice in that? That is NOT free trade and I think it quite hypocritical that richer states discuss the development of poorer countries but inflict harsh taxes and stamp duties on them. Business' must play a key role in achieving the MDGs - the full potential of the private sector remains untapped.

An enabling business environment encourages entrepreneurship, allows local companies to thrive and attracts foreign investment offering companies the chance to achieve returns. For this to happen, you need good governance, a reliable system, political stability (lack of corruption), a reasonable tax structure and allowance of property rights. There needs to be more trust links between the North and South to break barriers and overcoming marginal gaps between rich and poor.

All but perhaps a small handful of countries are falling behind on their MDG - we must work together to put the MDG back on the forefront of our government's foreign policy if we are to create unity to our global neighbours.