MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
McMullan
The Australian Government is partnering with business to fight poverty in our region.
The Government will provide $400,000 to Business for Millennium Development to encourage business to address poverty in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, said the partnership will raise awareness of the role the business community can play in combating poverty.
'Australian businesses can play an important part in helping to reduce poverty in our region,' Mr McMullan said.
'I commend Business for Millennium Development for taking a leadership role in identifying business opportunities that will also help developing countries in our region to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.'
The partnership will conduct a range of CEO briefing sessions this year and hold a National Summit toward the end of 2008.
Business for Millennium Development was launched in April 2007 by a small group of businesses with the support of World Vision.
Foundation members include ANZ Banking Group, Grey Global, IBM Australia, Insurance Australia Group and Visy.
Simon McKeon (Executive Chairman, Macquarie Bank) is Chairman of Business for Millennium Development and Mark Ingram (former NZ Consul General and Trade Commissioner) is Executive Director.
Media Contacts: Sabina Curatolo 0400 318 205
AusAID Public Affairs 0417 680 590