New Delhi, 28 November 2022 (TDI): UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has organized a two-day regional forum on Inclusive Business in Agriculture and Food Systems.
The forum will take place from 1-2 December 2022 in Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi, India. The forum’s objectives are to raise awareness of inclusive business practices in agriculture.
In addition, the forum will exchange information and experiences on this topic and advocate critical public and private stakeholders to promote inclusive business.
Framework
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will engage with Invest India to further the “Regional Inclusive Business Models in Agriculture and Food Systems” initiative. This will serve as the foundation’s framework for this Forum.
The first day of the forum consists of a series of presentations and panels which have been divided into the policy and business track. Participants will gain knowledge about how governments can support inclusive businesses.
Moreover, they will know about inclusive business accreditation, measuring and managing impact, financing inclusive companies, and market potential for inclusive business.
Read more: ESCAP launches new collaboration for Tech Advancements
Day two of the forum includes a field visit to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In addition, a roundtable with key agriculture business stakeholders will also take place.
Additionally, the business sector will need to promote development goals more actively. This will draw paths for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Inclusive Businesses
Inclusive businesses provide the chance to address issues with development. Enterprises that “supply people with goods, services, and livelihoods on a commercially sustainable basis” are considered inclusive businesses.
They give businesses access to the market and opportunities for above-market income. Additionally, they assist governments in delivering affordable goods and services.
This brings people out of poverty while offering low-income and marginalized groups access to affordable goods and services. In this regard, there are many examples of inclusive business models in Asia and the Pacific in the agricultural industry.
Partnerships at the local and regional levels are essential for agribusinesses to be inclusive and maintain their commercial potential.
