WASHINGTON, D.C., November 5, 1999
—
The International Finance Corporation will hold a workshop on environmental strategies for leading financial institutions in Milan, Italy, from November 8 to 12, 1999. The workshop,
"Competitive Environmental Advantage: Managing Environmental Risk in the Emerging Capital Markets",
will examine techniques for banks, funds, leasing companies, venture capital firms, and other financial organizations to transform environmental and social risks into business opportunities.
The workshop, supported by a grant from the Netherlands government, will help institutions in Africa and other emerging markets gain competitive advantage delivering value-adding environmental services to small and medium enterprises, said Mr. Andreas Raczynski, Director of IFC's Technical and Environment Department. The course will be interactive, drawing on the experience and insight of participating managers and will provide an analysis of the financial costs and benefits of implementing environmental management techniques, operational knowledge of implementing those techniques, and a strategy for gaining support for institutional changes.
The mission of IFC, part of the World Bank Group, is to promote private sector investment in developing countries, which will reduce poverty and improve people's lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing world, mobilizes capital in the international financial markets, and provides technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses.
