International Business Taskforce visits tsunami recovery activities

Business led development organisation, The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders' Forum (IBLF), is leading a multi-sector team of business executives nominated by their CEOs to visit and report back on how business is aiding recovery in tsunami hit communities of South Asia.

The IBLF 'Tsunami Business Taskforce' comprising younger managers drawn mainly from Asian countries aim to review what lessons can be learned from relief efforts and help plan strategies for effective long-term business engagement in sustainable recovery projects.

The taskforce begins with two simultaneous site visits with the assistance of local authorities, humanitarian agencies and NGOs to Phuket and Phi Phi Island projects in Thailand and the Tamil Nadu region of South India culminating in Sri Lanka on September 3.

Task Force participants are drawn from companies with an active engagement in the region and in tsunami relief including Abbot Laboratories, Accenture, Alcan Inc, Cadbury Schweppes, Deloitte, ERM Group, Manpower, Nestle and Standard Chartered and are taking part in an intensive programme of site visits, meetings and discussions with key individuals, organisations, national and international agencies.

IBLF corporate supporters have collectively committed over $60M to tsunami relief around the Indian Ocean and this is the first attempt to learn lessons about what is most effective, how business skills and expertise can back-up cash donations and how business can best assist long-term recovery.

The companies in the Task Force have already been active in the region in providing advice, resources or business support since the disaster on 26th December. Projects supported to date include donations to humanitarian agencies, re-housing, clean water, health, re-opening schools, micro credit, and assistance in boat building, reconstruction of local tourism services and livelihoods.