Before adjourning for the holidays, the Senate considered its version of the farm bill reauthorization. IGD sent a letter to senators in support of three key reform amendments – none of which were adopted, but two of which received support from a majority of senators and did not pass because of a procedural arrangement that required a super majority (60 votes) in order to allow the reform amendments to be brought up for a vote. Members of the House and Senate will now need to reconcile the two versions of the bill in a conference committee early in the new year. We hope that the strong reform votes in the Senate will move the final legislation in a positive direction.

In pursuit of its policy objectives this year, IGD achieved the following:

• Activated more than 100 IGD members in support of full funding for the MCC, through multiple letters to Congress
• Added the names of 11 IGD companies to an advertisement in support of the MCC (PDF) placed by the Business Council for International Understanding
• Educated IGD members on U.S. farm subsidies and the need for broad reform - IGD members were urged to contact their Members of Congress in support of major reform amendments and during Senate floor consideration, IGD sent a letter signed by 30 members (PDF) urging support for key reforms
• IGD Board member Tim Solso placed an op-ed in the Indianapolis Star (PDF) urging support for subsidy reform and modernization of the farm safety net

Event Success

Clinton Global Initiative | September 26 | New York

The Clinton Global Initiative convenes a diverse group of approximately 1,000 world leaders each fall to examine pressing global challenges and transform awareness into commitments to action. IGD President & CEO Jennifer Potter participated in this year’s annual meeting, where she shared the stage with Ian Davis, World Wide Managing Director of McKinsey & Company, Jakaya Kikwete, Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Laura D’Andrea Tyson of the Haas School of Business in a session on reducing poverty through public-private partnerships. It was a very receptive audience for the IGD message that effective policies aimed at poverty reduction, including stronger aid outcomes, trade expansion and economic development, combined with innovative private sector solutions, will expand economic growth and opportunity for people in poor countries.

President of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa | October 1 | Seattle

Trade promotion with African countries was a focus for IGD this fall and we had a unique opportunity to hear from African leaders firsthand. IGD hosted President Levy Mwanawasa of the Republic of Zambia for three days in early October. The mission of the President’s trip was to promote increased trade and to dispel the misconception that Africa, and in particular Zambia, is too risky for U.S. business. At IGD's breakfast event, the President’s Minister of Commerce said "We don't want help. We want investment. We want partnership." There are still challenges when investing in Zambia, but President Mwanawasa has made significant reforms to open the doors for more partnerships that are profitable and create jobs for local Zambians.

His Excellency was greeted at his hotel by over 100 local Zambians from across Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. His trip included a private dinner at the home of former Microsoft executive Paul Maritz, an event with the Chamber of Commerce Community Development Roundtable and a public event for the World Affairs Council. While here, President Mwanawasa attended meetings with Starbucks, Microsoft, Boeing, the Gates Foundation, the African Chamber of Commerce and PATH.

Many IGD members have told us that Africa is still a mystery to them, making investment a slim possibility. Bringing African leaders to the United States to meet CEOs and dispel myths could go a long way in expanding trade and creating economic growth in the countries that need it most. IGD will continue our relationship with the President and his Ministers to explore future opportunities for working together.

Zambia has good deal to offer, Jerry Large, October 4, 2007, Seattle Times (PDF)
Get to know us, Zambia says, Kristi Heim, October 2, 2007, Seattle Times (PDF)

Assistant Secretary Dan Sullivan | October 11 | Seattle

IGD and Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) members met with Assistant Secretary of State Dan Sullivan in October to discuss the role of government programs and free trade agreements in promoting economic development. Sullivan talked about the administration’s record and highlighted both the MCC and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The key to economic development, he emphasized, is not the amount of money given, but how it is used by the recipient countries.

Sullivan described the important role that trade preference programs play in opening markets and leveling the playing field. Included in the discussion were the four pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) - Colombia, South Korea, Panama and Peru, the administration’s proposed Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Pakistan and prospects for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. He emphasized that the Doha Round alone would reduce global poverty more than any amount of aid could - increasing competitiveness and reducing global imbalances.

Sullivan encouraged the public and private sectors to work together to help spur global economic growth to address development concerns.

Carleton S. Fiorina | November 6 | Boston

IGD Board member and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carleton S. Fiorina spoke to a group of business leaders in Boston about the importance of creating a business voice to advocate for global poverty reduction. The event host committee included the following:

• James Brenner, President & CEO, Broad Cove Partners Inc
• Gururaj Deshpande, Chairman, Sycamore Networks, Inc.
• Rosabeth Kanter, Ernest L. Arbuckle Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
• Ted MacLean, General Manager, Northeast District, Microsoft Corporation

Jane Nelson of Harvard, Nishith Acharya of the Deshpande Foundation and Mark Evans formerly of the Bank of Boston all reached out to invitees on our behalf. The conversation was rich and Ms. Fiorina emphasized the need for the business community to weigh in on critical issues of the day, including the image of the United States abroad. “I’m involved in IGD because I think it’s good business to be involved,” she stated. Ms. Fiorina also said that reducing global poverty is in our nation’s security interest and a sustained collaboration between the private sector and the government is needed in this regard. “Business leaders think differently about solving problems,” she said, which could be a tremendous help in formulating new government investments in job creation and poverty reduction throughout the world. Ms. Fiorina ended by saying that in the past, addressing global poverty has been considered a “nice-to-do” action by business. Now there is a shift and poverty reduction is becoming a “have-to-do” action in order to promote economic development in poor countries and for enlightened self-interest. IGD can play a vital role in bringing government and business together to align interests and increase economic growth and opportunity in developing countries.

Caux Round Table Annual Global Dialogue Dinner | October 16 | Seattle

IGD also co-sponsored a dinner with the Caux Round Table (CRT) that featured former WRQ CEO Doug Walker. Mr. Walker spoke about business leadership on global climate solutions. CRT is an international network of principled business leaders working to promote a moral capitalism. Click here to read Mr. Walker's Speech (PDF).

Strategic plan

IGD board and staff engaged in a strategic planning process over the summer that culminated in the board’s approval of a three-year plan at the end of November. Highlights of the plan include a set of key objectives:

• Build, educate and activate a national network of business leaders on issues of global poverty
• Achieve effective policies aimed at poverty reduction, including stronger aid outcomes, trade expansion and economic development
• Advance innovative private sector solutions that expand economic opportunities for people in poor countries
• Leverage collaborations with key organizations to advance IGD objectives

To achieve these objectives, IGD will focus on four program areas: membership, policy change, presidential leadership and private sector solutions. Click here to read the executive summary of the strategic plan (PDF).

2008 Speaker Series

The 2008 IGD Speaker Series will provide opportunities for business leaders to learn about and participate in effective measures to reduce global poverty. The series will include 12 events in nine cities: Chicago, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle and Tampa. Events in Anchorage, Boston and Kansas City will take place in late 2008 or early 2009.

Speaker topics in 2008 will focus on global poverty reduction through expanded trade, improved aid outcomes and economic development in poor countries. Each speaker will bring expertise and a unique personal perspective to the discussion of possible solutions and key policy reforms.

IGD Speaker Series events are private, off-the-record events where IGD members are encouraged to ask challenging questions of international development experts to foster better solutions for reducing global poverty. Click here to see some of the speakers IGD has hosted for previous events (PDF).

About our sponsors

IGD is pleased to announce a new partnership with Symetra Financial, which will serve as a Premier National Series Sponsor for the IGD 2008 Speaker Series. Symetra Financial is an emerging U.S. leader in providing retirement plans, employee benefits, life insurance and annuities.

IGD would like to thank Unico Properties LLC for facilitating a new home for IGD staff in the heart of downtown Seattle.

IGD would also like to thank all of its corporate and foundation partners for their support in 2007:

• Alaska Airlines
• The Boeing Company
• Connect US
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
• The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Legacy Works Foundation
• McKinstry Company Charitable Foundation
• Nike Foundation
• Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
• Seattle International Foundation
• Skyway Luggage Company
• Symetra Financial
• United Nations Foundation
• West Foundation

IGD is also grateful for the support of its many individual donors – a complete list will be published in our annual report.

To find out more about how you can support IGD through corporate sponsorships, personal donations, or in-kind contributions please contact Development Manager Chris Thompson at 206.373.7157.