Region’s ‘inclusive businesses’ on front line in war on poverty
Southeast Asia’s “inclusive businesses” (IBs) have been hailed for contributing more to the region’s economic growth by providing income opportunities and affordable services and goods to low-income communities.
Philippine trade undersecretary and Board of Investments chief Ceferino Rodolfo noted this week that IBs go beyond the usual “corporate social responsibility” activities by hiring underprivileged people as suppliers, distributors, consumers and retailers.
He said Southeast Asia has 332 million people living below the poverty line, and IBs are tapping their talents and lifting many of them above that line.
“Because inclusive business creates jobs with the goal of bettering our quality of life, especially in low-income communities, they help us realise the Asean Community Vision 2025 goal of building a people-centred and people-oriented Asean,” Rodolfo said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
