Entrepreneurs don't attend meetings

[nutmeg]

S/A posted this video. Imo, excellent point on what we need to do to build business in this country. The gov't says, "This is what we can do for you". Nope doesn't work that way, the gov't needs to "listen" and people will tell the gov't what we need.
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"I worked for an Italian NGO,and every single project that we set up in Africa failed.And I was distraught.I thought, age 21, that we Italians were good peopleand we were doing good work in Africa.Instead, everything we touched we killed."


"You want to read the book,read "Dead Aid," by Dambisa Moyo,Zambian woman economist.The book was published in 2009.We Western donor countries have given the African continent two trillion American dollars in the last 50 years.I'm not going to tell you the damage that that money has done.Just go and read her book.Read it from an African woman, the damage that we have done. "

<iframe src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

 

[nutmeg]

In the past 50 years, more than $1 trillion in development-related aid has been transferred from rich countries to Africa. Has this assistance improved the lives of Africans? No. In fact, across the continent, the recipients of this aid are not better off as a result of it, but worse--much worse.

In Dead Aid, Dambisa Moyo describes the state of postwar development policy in Africa today and unflinchingly confronts one of the greatest myths of our time: that billions of dollars in aid sent from wealthy countries to developing African nations has helped to reduce poverty and increase growth. In fact, poverty levels continue to escalate while growth rates have steadily declined--and millions continue to suffer.

Provocatively drawing a sharp contrast between African countries that have rejected the aid route and prospered and others that have become aid-dependent and seen poverty increase, Moyo illuminates the way in which overreliance on aid has trapped developing nations in a vicious circle of aid dependency, corruption, market distortion and further poverty, leaving them with nothing but the "need" for more aid.

Debunking the current model of international aid promoted by both Hollywood celebrities and policymakers, Moyo offers a bold new road map for financing development of the world's poorest countries that guarantees economic growth and a significant decline in poverty--without reliance on foreign aid or aid-related assistance.
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Plenty of parallels, here in the US we dump tons of money into the ghetto with predictable results.

 

[Bob111]

at least they(Italians) feed the hippos..

 

[Ripley]

What's up with the title? How do entrepreneurs like me get shit done if they don't attend meetings?

 

[nutmeg]

Quote from Ripley:

What's up with the title? How do entrepreneurs like me get shit done if they don't attend meetings?

I can't speak for the speaker but Imo, if you want to get to OZ you have to ask someone who's been there. Not sit around with a bunch of academics and "here to help you" gov't officials tell you what you need.

Sirolli's point was, respect confidentiality, don't be condescending and ask the entrepreneur what they want.

 

[mgrund]

I agree- the British government give in excess of 2 billion sterling to the Indians - and what do we get in return? bugger all!

 

[smallStops]

I have been wondering : 2 TRILLION $ , surely someone must have got rich?
who got the money, who stuff their own pockets while using guilt to get us to give to charity?