Providing Economic Opportunity. Building sustainable communities

Transcription

1 Providing Economic Opportunity Building sustainable communities

2 By providing income generating opportunities, Philip Morris International s (PMI) Contributions Program is helping to build dynamic, developed communities that empower individuals to have a better quality of life. To achieve this, PMI partners with NGOs that specialize in the development of new farming techniques, vocational training programs, business start-up projects and mentoring in communities where we do business. Greece: Training program provides new skills for young people Papastratos President and Managing Director, Nikitas Theophilopoulo (left), presents Preparing for Tomorrow to Greek Minister for Labor, Social Security and Welfare, Giannis Vroutsis (right) In April 2013, PMI s affiliate in Greece, Papastratos, agreed on a partnership with leading local training organization, SEV-IVEPE, to roll out a nationwide program entitled, Preparing for Tomorrow. The program trains young people with skills they need to compete in the current difficult job market. It is a token of the confidence of a private business in the prospects of the Greek economy, investing in the most promising and dynamic part of Greek society: the young ones. Greek Minister for Labor, Social Security and Welfare, Giannis Vroutsis.

3 A local newspaper covers the SETC sixth annual Expo in East Java, October 2014 Colombia: Local affiliate helps create micro-franchises run by former guerrillas and civil war victims Colombia s civil war started 55 years ago and has caused more than 220 thousand deaths, seriously hampering the country s economic development. Over the past 10 years, the government has ramped up its efforts in guerrilla disbandment and set up a victim support process to foster reconciliation in the community and help end the war. Indonesia: Promoting economic opportunity through entrepreneurship In Indonesia, our affiliate Sampoerna has a long tradition of helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) dating back to 2007 when the Sampoerna Entrepreneurship Training Center (SETC) was opened near the company s East Java factory. The Center fosters the talents of entrepreneurs through supporting their development of new products including food, herbal drinks, handicrafts and garments. The SETC program received the Indonesian Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Award for Entrepreneurship Development in 2012, and in 2013, Sampoerna attended the 28th Trade Expo Indonesia - one of the most prestigious trade events in Asia - to showcase products from entrepreneurs supported by the Center. Sampoerna has helped me reach my dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur. Karyani, entrepreneur at the 28th Indonesian Trade Expo October 2013 In October 2014, the SETC held its sixth annual Expo in East Java entitled, Everyone Can Innovate, Anytime. The event showcased many SETC-supported SMEs work and sought to promote sustainable business development and entrepreneurship. In 2010, PMI s local affiliate in Colombia, Coltabaco, initiated a partnership with the International Office for Migration to create the first micro-franchise project in the country as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth. Since that time, and in coordination with the government s peace and reintegration process, nine micromarkets have been set up helping almost 40 former guerrillas and their families successfully integrate into a peaceful society in North Colombia, one of the country s most promising tobacco-growing regions. In early 2014, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade joined the project, broadening its scope to include support for victims of the civil war. Recently, other companies have pledged financial support to the project given the mini-franchises potential to open retail outlets for goods in low-to-medium income neighborhoods. In 2015, Coltabaco plans to set up seven business units focusing on helping displaced persons and to createz eighteen business units assisting civil war victims. As a result, the number of beneficiaries from the project is expected to increase threefold by the end of Coltabaco can change people s lives in a positive way thanks to this really great project providing former guerrillas with the opportunity to share with the community. The community has accepted us in a positive way, realized who we are, asked us where we have come from and how our progress has been. We have told members of the community the truth and that has lead them to help and support us. Angela Maria Torres, former guerrilla and beneficiary of the project

4 A micro-franchise store opening in Colombia held in Antioquia in December 2014, which included the President of the country, Juan Manuel Santos, in attendance Brett Taylor, Branch Director for Indochina, presents the Philip Morris contribution to Vietnam s Red Cross Society Serbia: Supporting entrepreneurship for 400 young entrepreneurs In June 2013, Philip Morris Serbia (PM Serbia) held an Awards ceremony to name the 110 lucky young winners of the nationwide competition, START UP FOR YOUR BUSINESS. Initiated by PM Serbia together with local NGO, ENECA, the competition awards prizes in the form of grants to help young entrepreneurs get their business idea off the ground, together with business and professional training, and support to further develop their ideas. In 2014, PM Serbia continued to support the competition together with ENECA, and 400 entrepreneurs to date have received support to help bring their brightest and best ideas to life. START UP FOR YOUR BUSINESS competition winners at the 2013 Awards ceremony Vietnam: Funding to help families find a route out of poverty In August 2014, Philip Morris Vietnam (PM Vietnam) teamed up with Vietnam s Red Cross Society to support their Cow Bank program in Thua Thien Hue Province. The program was first launched in 2010 to improve the income of the poorest families in communities nationwide by providing them with a breeding cow to raise livestock. Encouraged by the program s early success (reaching 7,028 families by early 2013), the Red Cross Society decided to extend the initiative. With PM Vietnam s support, the NGO is helping an additional 70 families in the A Luoi District of Thua Thien Hue Province, enhancing these families knowledge and skills of cow breeding to help improve their livelihood.

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