Development forum meets in Dublin

The first meeting of the Private Sector Forum for Development took place today in Dublin.

The forum was established by Minister of State for Development and Human Rights, Tom Kitt, to promote linkages between the Irish private sector and the private sector in developing countries where Development Co-operation Ireland is currently concentrating its efforts.

The forum aims to identify companies with an interest in an involvement with this area, and to encourage them by assisting the development of partnerships and mentoring with emerging enterprises in these developing countries.

Liam Fitzgerald, CEO of United Drug, is chairman of the forum.

Today, in order to stimulate the debate on issues surrounding private sector engagement in Sub Saharan Africa, the meeting was addressed by Niall Fitzgerald, chairman of Unilever, who delivered a keynote address on his experience of such engagements.

The meeting was also addressed by Donal Tierney, CEO of Cross Vetpharm, who has direct experience of working in both Tanzania and Uganda.

The motivation for Minister Kitt's initiative is the desire to engage in a broad based war on poverty using all of "the tools of a wealthy developed country".

"I believe the Irish private sector can play a crucial role in assisting less developed countries to trade out of poverty," said Minister Kitt.