NABA in Parliament Public Hearing on White Paper on Private Sector in Development

NABA participated in today’s public hearing on Government White Paper no 35 (2014/2015) “Working together: Private sector development in Norwegian development cooperation” in the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.NABA Managing Director Mr. Eivind Fjeldstad congratulated the government on focusing on the private sector’s positive contributions to development, but said that a more detailed action plan would be the next step. “There are many positive elements in this white paper, but we miss a more detailed plan on how to translate all this positive rhetoric into action”, Fjeldstad said. Another point of concern raised by NABA is the current budget situation where Norad – the Norwegian Development Aid Agency’s private sector department budget has been reduced with fifty percent in the new budget. “With this white paper in mind, such a cut does not make sense. It should be reversed” Fjeldstad said.You can see today’s presentations in the Parliament from this link (only in Norwegian): https://www.stortinget.no/no/Hva-skjer-pa-Stortinget/Videoarkiv/Arkiv-TV-sendinger/?mbid=/2015/H264-full/Hoeringssal1/12/14/Hoeringssal1-20151214-101113.mp4&msid=227&dateid=10003867