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Creating Shared Value Global Forum 2013

October 21, 2013

On Monday 28 October, Nestlé, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, co-hosted the 5th Creating Shared Value Forum in Cartagena, Colombia.The theme of the event was Creating Shared Value: The changing role of business in development.

Opened by the Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos and First Lady, María Clemencia Rodríguez de Santos, over 20 leading international and Latin American experts from government, academia, civil society and business were gathered , and took part in discussions about how to accelerate sustainable development. Some of the speakers involved in the Forum were: Prof. Michael Porter, from Harvard Business School; Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank; Alejandro Gaviria, Colombian Minister of Health and Social Protection; Sergio Diaz-Granados Guida, Colombian Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and many more. All the discussions were broadcast via a live webcast.

The topics included the challenges of over- and under-nutrition across the Americas and the connection between water, the environment and food security.

We leave you some of the quotes from the forum:

The president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, said “The concept of shared value is the perfect fit for what we are trying to achieve in Colombia” affirming that “taking people out of poverty is a very important goal for us. This is where CSV comes into play… by creating synergies between the private and public sector.”

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chaiman, Nestlé S.A. said “Business can not only create value for shareholders, business has to create at the same time benefits for the society”. He also affirm that “It is not enough to create economic growth, we need to have a sustainable inclusive growth, and that’s what we have failed in countries like Colombia”.

Michael Poter, “Share Value occurs where you can address an important sociable need or sociable problem with a business model, witch means that you actually make a profit”, “When business can address thous issues with a business model, that is out of profit and you have magic”. He also insure that “The shearing part, its not the core. Its the creating part what its doing things that will benefit the business while moving an important social agenda forward”.

Credit Image:  Nestlé