PepsiCo will support 200,000 Arab social innovators

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Dubai: PepsiCo has announced it will provide practical and educational support and guidance to over 200,000 social entrepreneurs across the Arab world, Sanjeev Chadha, PepsiCo MEA President told Gulf News.

PepsiCo says it finds supporting social entrepreneurs can be very helpful to promoting society and the economy overall.

“These businesses can bring remarkable changes in societies by finding ways to solve the social problems and empower people to extend their reach,” Chadha said.

He said PepsiCo has allocated over $2 million (Dh7.34 million) to develop programmes that aim to serve society by tackling major issues and generates social values.

According to Chadha, the programme will focus on four major counties: UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Arab entrepreneurs who have a very promising established business based on social interest will be supported by developing programme including mentoring, coaching and technical assistance on key topics such as strategy, business planning, communication and fundraising, Chadha said. Female economic engagement, empowerment of women and the host of issues related to water in the region are all potential areas in which we could work, he said.

In partnership with The Synergos Institute, PepsiCo will offer a range of services and guidance to these Arab innovators who have set up businesses aimed to better serve societal issues. The programme will last two years and be supported by the World Arab Social Innovators Program (AWSI).

Source: Gulf News (link opens in a new window)

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