Developpp.de - Introduction

A word of welcome

Partnerships between the private sector and the state foster sustainable development. This has been demonstrated by over 3,000 cooperation arrangements implemented in more than 70 developing countries on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) over the last ten years. The government will continue to expand these development partnerships and get as many private businesses as possible on board. It is our conviction that there can be no sustainable development without sustainable economic development.

The recent economic and financial crisis and the global challenges we face, including the need to tackle climate change and conserve valuable resources, have driven home how important it is to work together. If we want to make a real change for the people in developing countries, we must pool our resources. We need private capital and the expertise of our industry if we are to create jobs and generate income in our partner countries, introduce environmentally sound technologies that will not harm our global climate, and provide opportunities for trainees. Businesses can intervene in areas that are difficult for the state to access and make a very specific contribution to resolving global problems. Modern environmentally friendly technologies are climate protection in action. By working together we can better dovetail foreign trade and development policy, as we spelled out in the Coalition Agreement.

In our development-policy decisions, we take account of the interests of the private sector in the firm belief that our partner countries will also reap maximum benefit and that corporate social responsibility can enhance the value of every investment, also in the field of development work.

In development partnerships, we turn the spotlight on economic cooperation and boost the effectiveness and visibility of our policies. In doing this, it is important for us to achieve recognition for and broad acceptance of our fundamental principles and to pass on values such as liberty, democracy and the rule of law. This is why some of the key issues in our view include good governance, the expansion and protection of the private sector, the promotion of microfinance systems and improving and upgrading infrastructure. No less important, however, are investments in education and training, health, rural development, climate change mitigation, protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources. And of course, we will uphold the pledges Germany has made on preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change and hunger. With this in mind, we are counting more than ever on continuing and stepping up our constructive cooperation with German industry.

Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz
State Secretary