The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States are pleased to announce that a two-day High-Level Symposium on Private Sector Development in ACP countries will take place at the ACP House in Brussels on the 10th and 11th of November, 2014, bringing together various stakeholders including ACP Missions, Embassies and regional economic communities, private sector actors, international organisations and other development partners.
The main objective of this two-day event is to agree on a common “All-ACP” platform for action to stimulate the growth and expansion of the private sector in ACP countries and regions.
There is increasing consensus on the crucial role of the private sector in creating jobs, promoting economic development and combating poverty. In ACP countries, this role is vital because of its potential to move millions out of poverty and into productive activity.
This year’s event will contribute to the finalisation of the ACP Group’s new strategy for supporting private sector development in its seventy nine member states located in six regions in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The Symposium will utilise the vast knowledge and experience of the participants to concretise new ideas, approaches and partnerships in the ACP’s future private sector development programming.
In addition to identifying interventions that will support the improvement of the business climate in ACP countries and grow the micro, small and medium enterprise sectors and their access to finance and to regional and international markets, the Symposium will also review appropriate implementation mechanisms and instruments, including the value chain and cluster approach to business development and the use of sovereign funds, and deeper engagement of the private sector in development.
The symposium will make concrete recommendations for the operationalization of the private sector development strategy in ACP countries and regions. The outcome of the meeting will be submitted to the ACP Committee of Ambassadors with a view to the 100th session of the ACP Council of Ministers to be held in Brussels from 9 to 12 December 2014.
For more information visit: www.acp-privatesector.com.
