More and more companies realise that entrepreneurship is not only a matter of money/profit but has also got to do with social and environmental values like human rights and healthy working conditions. For a lot of companies CSR has become part of their company strategy. For them labour conditions and environment are just as important as making a good profit.

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The United Nations initiated Global Compact, a network of companies who support the principles in the areas of human rights, labour conditions and environment. In India 83 companies have joined the Global Compact. The network relies on public accountability, transparency and the self-interest of companies of companies.

More information:
 Ministry of Economic Affairs (Dutch)
 www.unglobalcompact.org
 www.oesorichtlijnen; guidelines for multinational companies (in Dutch)
More information on Fair trade: 
 www.irft.org (International Resources for Fairer Trade (IRFT) supports the development of Community Based Enterprises as sustainable businesses and encourages and monitors socially responsible behaviour among Indian businesses)
For suggestions on this issue please mail to:  nde-ea@minbuza.nl

In Business for Development
Economic growth should be achieved with the active participation of the poor, so that they can make a direct contribution to that growth and share its benefits. This 'pro-poor growth' approach means that economic growth must be accompanied by sustainable employment creation, health care and education provisions, reforms in access to land and other means of production, enhancement of civil society, fair wages and salaries and sufficient attention to the most vulnerable groups.
A well functioning government is essential for this 'pro-poor growth'. But it is equally important that the private sector has got the space to develop its business. A good balance between the public and private sector is however the best guarantee for achieving the 'pro-poor growth'. The Dutch government tries to encourage governments and the private sector to work towards a 'pro-poor growth' economy.
More information:  Policy document 'In business against poverty'

Environmental issues; 
Clean Development mechanisms
Reduction in the emission of Green house gasses, called Certified Emission Reduction (CER), in India can be sold to the Netherlands. This is in short how the Clean Development Mechanisms works. On the one hand CDM stimulates sustainable economic growth in India because projects in (renewable) energy are being financed. On the other hand, it helps the Netherlands to reach the reduction targets agreed under the Kyoto-protocol. The Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM) has worked out four strategies for the implementation of CDM. There is special focus on India:

• International procurement tender, called CERUPT. The tender closed in March 2003 and no new tender will be opened. Five Indian projects have been selected.
• Agreements with multilateral development banks. The Dutch government has already signed a contract with the International Finance Co-operation (IFC) and the Worldbank.
• Agreements with private banks. The Dutch government has already signed a contract with the Dutch Rabobank.
• Bi-lateral agreements with national governments.