Prince Charles Leadership Programme visits Sri Lanka to assist tsunami affected businesses

THE Tsunami Task Force that visited Sri Lanka recently is an IBLF executive leadership initiative to review and define business roles, opportunities and challenges in economic recovery in the tsunami hit communities in India, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

The team met with key people and organizations on the ground engaged in recovery activities, talks with business and community leaders and others involved and obtain unique observations on what has happened and the role for business in recovery following this and similar disaster situations.

They will report on the wider lessons for business from the response to both disaster planning and recovery and male recommendations for follow-up engagement in recovery action by the IBLF and its partners, their own companies and the wider business community.

The Task Force was divided into two teams - the first visited Phuket Island, Thailand, the second visited Tamil Nadu, India and the two teams met together in South Sri Lanka.

The initiative was coordinated by IBLF and led by Michael Garrett, recently Executive Vice President (Asia and Africa) of Nestle S. A. and Robert Davies, CEO of IBLF, IBLF will make local arrangements through local advisers in association with Adopt Sri Lanka and IBLF partners in Phuket and Tamil Nadu.

In the course of the visit, Task Force participants had some outstanding experiences and met some exceptional people, organizations and business, which will leave a lasting impression and inspiration for what is possible among the many challenges faced.

The Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster in December 2004 led to almost 300,000 deaths, 1 million people homeless, over two million lost jobs, destruction of over 50% of the region's fishing boats, widespread devastation to communities and coastal economies and estimated reconstruction costs of US$ 12 billion.

Many businesses, particularly local small and medium sized enterprises, were amongst the first organizations to engage in rescue and recovery efforts and there was an extraordinary commitment of resources - cash, logistics, water and food, relief aid and people.

IBLF was engaged from the start - briefing its tourism members and others with regional operations and supply chains, brokering contacts, spreading ideas and experience and providing a framework for companies to assess their response in the three critical stages of rescue, relief review of action through IBLF associates in India, Thailand and Indonesia.

There are some outstanding projects and organizations working on the ground, even though there is widespread concern that relief efforts are not leading to recovery. The United Nations has estimated that reconstruction work in the region will take up to 5 years.

Many corporations that have been engaged are interested to learn how businesses can make the most effective contribution to recovery in areas such as housing, livelihoods (fishing, traders, tourism services etc.) education and environmental restoration, particularly through application of core business resources and skills, in some cases they have uncommitted funds and need to know what approach to maximize effectiveness, there is an interest in what role business can play more widely in future relief and sustainable recovery.

Identifying reportable local partners with whom to work is a key challenge that was addressed. The team comprised of 12-15 early to mid career' business managers selected by IBLF from nominations submitted by interested companies.

The Task Force members reported back directly to their global CEOs. They came from a variety of industry sectors in America, Europe and South Asia fully sponsored by their companies who met the costs.

The Task Force was divided into two teams - the first visited Phuket Island, Thailand, the second visited Tamil Nadu India, and the two teams met together in South Sri Lanka. and had extensive discussion with business leaders and the Governor of the Southern Province Kingsley T. Wickramaratne.

Each team member reported back personally to their CEO, using the team and individual report which has become part of final report.

The aim of the Prince Charles Executive Leadership Initiative is to review and define business roles and opportunities in sustainable development and economic recovery in disaster prone areas, learning lessons from the tsunami disaster countries and communities.

The Meeting of the Southern Province was held at the "Dutch House", Upper Dickson Road, Galle, owned and operated by Jeffery Dobs who hosted the team for dinner.

The leader of the Task force Michal Garrutte leader Nestle India/Nestle Japan said" I think that young managers have to understand that business is a part of a broader community and only if that broader community is succeeding and is successful that the business it self thrives.

Robert Davies CEO of IBLF and Co-leader of the Task force said the report demonstrated that there was also a contrast between the dynamic recovery efforts of the local business sector and the sometimes bureaucratic nature of relief work of government and non-governmental organizations.

Governor Kingsley T. Wickramaratne said "It is important that the IBLF provides the Tsunami effected businessmen with entrepreneur skills, leadership, training and access to easy micro credit.