Sergio Piazzardi, Policy Officer DEVCO C4 "Private framework development, trade and

regional integration" , European Commission

INFOPOINT Lunch Time Conference 16 February 2016

PRIVATE SECTOR AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM:

Opportunities and Challenges

The EC Perspective on the role of the Private Sector

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Opportunities

Job creation: the private sector provides 90 % of jobs in developing countries

Sustainability: consistency between financial and economic results

Inclusiveness: growth is shared , the sector is labour intensive

Innovation : Energy and water conservation, infrastructure, digitalisation, mobile solutions

Why Private Sector in Sustainable Tourism ?

Addressing challenges

Business and investment environment

Access to finance mainly for SMEs

Skills gap

Information gap / Digital divide

Risk mitigation

Ecosystems protection

Heritage and culture preservation

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2014 EU Private Sector Policy

EU strategy for private sector development in developing countries (business environment, access to finance, improving enterprise productivity & competitiveness…). Endorsed by EU Member States.

Engaging and partnering with the private sector to achieve development impact.

Focus on sectors such as energy, agriculture and infrastructure, and productive sectors as announced in the Agenda for Change, including through blending.

Dialogue and joint action with business and civil society

Principles and criteria guiding the EU’s engagement with the private sector in development cooperation

What are our main objectives today :

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Fighting poverty through private sector development and engagement

Support the improvement of business and investment climate, especially for MSME

Support Access to finance for enterprises, in particular for SME, and financial inclusion (microfinance)

Support the private sector to be involved in GVCs

Improving skills through vocational training

Reduce digital divide

Preferential access to EU market: ACP Cotonou agreement, EBA etc.

Regional Integration (CFTA)

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Funds reserved to private sector development in EU aid instruments – DG DEVCO indicative core allocations for 2014-2020

≈ M€

Country level (bilateral) (DCI, EDF)

National Indicative Programmes

21 countries 650

Regional level (DCI, EDF)

Regional Indicative Programmes

Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America, Pacific

600

ACP level (ETC)

Intra-ACP Programme

Africa, Caribbean, Pacific 600

Thematic (DCI)

Global Public Goods and Challenges …

Addressing innovative global initiatives

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+ PSD in neighbourhood countries of around 650 million euros for 2014-2017

≈ 2000

Successful example of EU cooperation

SWITCH – ASIA

EC contribution EUR 19 million

The “Zero Carbon Resorts” enabled tourism SMEs in the Tourism sector , such as hotels and resorts, to provide their energy services in an efficient, cost effective, and environmentally sound way.

© Targeted SMEs saved more than €4 million, 52% reduction

in energy use and a 54% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

© In 2014, 3 out of 5 of those awarded the ASEAN “Green Hotel Award” from the Philippines were participants in the projet.

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Conclusion • Business decisions to engage in developing countries are for

companies to do

• There are today interesting and growing markets with real win-win opportunities for all : the private, the public and the people (communities)

• The European Union is already engaged in supporting the private sector in developing countries and in making their markets more attractive to operate

• We are now ready to listen our

invited guests

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Thank you!

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