Visionaries, researchers and investors are all crucial to the development of BoP business models, but if businesses aren’t involved, there’s not much of a business model.
For this reason, the Opportunities for the Majority initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank has begun holding business roundtables in several Latin American cities, in an effort to encourage private sector participation in underserved markets and showcase the work being done already in this field. In 2008, a roundtable was held in San Salvador, El Salvador, in collaboration with FUNDEMAS and FUSADES, and two more are coming up in 2009.
The first will take place on December 10 in Panama City, Panama. Panamanian organizations, including the local Chamber of Commerce and SumaRSE, are helping identify high-level representatives from private sector companies interested in finding out how their businesses can start reaching the untapped potential of majority markets. The event will gather approximately 80 top Panamanian businessmen, who will meet over breakfast to learn about the work Opportunities for the Majority is doing in the region, and the challenges and successes encountered so far.
The next roundtable will take place on December 14, across the continent in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Again, the event will be hosted in collaboration with local organizations."Our main goal in organizing these events is to call the attention of the business community to the market potential offered by majority markets all over the region. We hope that after each roundtable participants can draw inspiration and go back to their organizations with fresh ideas on how to venture into this space," explains Luiz Ros, Manager of Opportunities for the Majority.
As these events take place, MajorityMarkets.org will share the information presented and will keep you updated about where future roundtables will be held.
