Seminars & Events
International Symposium
The Frontier of BOP Business:
Growth Potential of Markets in Developing Countries and Public-Private Partnerships
JETRO, together with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry*, will organize an international symposium aimed at deepening understanding and examining economic potential of BOP business.
BOP, or “Base of the Economic Pyramid,” comprises the roughly four billion people (or 72% of the world’s population) living in developing countries who earn less than $3,000 per year. Collectively, BOP is drawing attention as an untapped market with huge potential for growth.
Defined as sustainable business targeting and involving BOP consumers, producers and buyers, BOP business is expected to contribute to addressing the many social challenges facing developing countries. BOP business not only allows companies to develop new markets, but also brings numerous benefits to local societies, such as help solving medical and hygiene issues, improvement of nutrition and also development of local economies through job creation along the supply chain.
The symposium’s first session will feature two keynote speeches: Prof. Vijay Mahajan of the University of Texas, a renowned marketing expert and social entrepreneur, will discuss new business solutions for BOP business; and Dr. Marilou Uy of the World Bank will examine the potential for BOP business through public-private partnerships in developing countries/regions, drawing on her extensive experience in private sector development in South Asia and Africa.
The second session will include two presentations and a panel discussion, under the theme “Current State and Growth Potential of BOP business.” Panelists from public, private and civic sectors will discuss “frontiers” in BOP business for Japanese companies, and examine policy support needed for these companies to make an entry into this sphere.
*JETRO is organizing this symposium as a METI-commissioned project.
BOP, or “Base of the Economic Pyramid,” comprises the roughly four billion people (or 72% of the world’s population) living in developing countries who earn less than $3,000 per year. Collectively, BOP is drawing attention as an untapped market with huge potential for growth.
Defined as sustainable business targeting and involving BOP consumers, producers and buyers, BOP business is expected to contribute to addressing the many social challenges facing developing countries. BOP business not only allows companies to develop new markets, but also brings numerous benefits to local societies, such as help solving medical and hygiene issues, improvement of nutrition and also development of local economies through job creation along the supply chain.
The symposium’s first session will feature two keynote speeches: Prof. Vijay Mahajan of the University of Texas, a renowned marketing expert and social entrepreneur, will discuss new business solutions for BOP business; and Dr. Marilou Uy of the World Bank will examine the potential for BOP business through public-private partnerships in developing countries/regions, drawing on her extensive experience in private sector development in South Asia and Africa.
The second session will include two presentations and a panel discussion, under the theme “Current State and Growth Potential of BOP business.” Panelists from public, private and civic sectors will discuss “frontiers” in BOP business for Japanese companies, and examine policy support needed for these companies to make an entry into this sphere.
*JETRO is organizing this symposium as a METI-commissioned project.
Date&time:
March 9, 2010, (Tuesday) 12:30-17:00 (Registration opens at 11:30 a.m.)
Venue:
Tokyo International Forum
(5-1 Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Languages:
Simultaneous interpretation in Japanese and English will be availableOrganizer:
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)Co-organizer:
JETRO
Supporting bodies (TBC):
World Bank, The Asahi Shimbun, Nippon Keidanren, Japan Foreign Trade Council,
Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation
Participation fee:
FreeContact:
External Relations Division, Research Promotion Department, IDE-JETROTEL: 043-299-9536 FAX: 043-299-9726 E-mail：sympo-sc 
|
Program (tentative)
| 12:30-12:35 | Opening remarks | METI |
| Session 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 12:35-14:15 | Keynote speeches | |
| “Invisible Global Market: Marketing to the Other 86%” | Vijay Mahajan, John P. Harbin Centennial Chair in Business, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas, Austin | |
| “Doing Business with the Bottom of the Pyramid” | Marilou Uy, Sector Director, Financial and Private Sector Development Department, Africa Region, World Bank | |
| Session 2 | ||
| 14:30-15:15 | Reports on BOP Business Support Activities | |
| (1) “Building new business models in developing countries through private-public initiatives” (report of the Policy Study Group on the BOP Business） | Satoru Koyama, Director, Trade Finance and Economic Cooperation Division, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, METI | |
| (2)Results of a JETRO survey on potential needs and case studies “BOP Business Strategies of Global Corporations” “Unmet needs of BOP: Proposals of promising Goods and Services to overcome BOP Penalties.” |
Hiromi Oki, Senior Economist, Overseas Research Department, JETRO Hiroshi Sato, Chief Senior Economist, Trade and Economic Cooperation Department, JETRO |
|
| 15:15-16:50 | Panel discussion “Current State and Growth Potential of BOP Business” |
Panelists: Nobuko Sanui, Managing Director, Nippon Keidanren Shino Tsuchiya, Researcher, The Japan Research Institute Europe, Limited Takeshi Tomino, Deputy Secretary General ,Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation Satoru Koyama Moderator: Hiroshi Sato |
| 16:50-17:00 | Closing remarks | JETRO, World Bank |
