150 Executives Convene to Discuss Opportunities for Wealth Creation in Emerging Markets

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), a global network whose goal is to build the small and growing business (SGB) sector in emerging markets, will convene leaders from October 3 to 5, 2011 in Ellicott City, Md. The event will attract 150 investors, capacity development providers, foundations and experts from around the globe.

ANDE is meeting with experts to discuss sustainable wealth creation and tools for poverty alleviation at a time when unemployment and unrest are rising globally. On Oct. 3, Matthew Bishop, American business editor of The Economist and author of Philanthrocapitalism: How Giving Can Save the World, will participate in a panel conversation with ANDE members about impact investing and the growth of SGBs. Bishop will then interview Dr. Paul Polak, entrepreneur and author of Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail. Polak will share how his market-based approach helped lift 20 million people out of poverty as well as describe his vision for a new kind of corporation serving emerging-market customers.

The conference will kick off with a "state of the small and growing business sector" report delivered by ANDE Executive Director Randall Kempner. Kempner will offer insight into the market landscape for entrepreneurs in the developing world and discuss how these economies could influence global prosperity. "We're excited by the growth in sector and believe the potential poverty impact of small business entrepreneurs is far from being fully realized," said Kempner.

Oct. 3 also marks the release of the ANDE video series, called "The FOUND Middle." Developed in partnership with NextBillion.net, a website and blog bringing together a diverse community in the shared mission of development through enterprise, the series will feature a dozen ANDE members over the next year. Each interview will illuminate how supporting entrepreneurial ventures that formerly lacked access to finance -- the "missing middle" -- can positively impact the quality of life for poor people in emerging markets.

The three-day conference held at Turf Valley will include roundtable workshops focused on finding solutions to common challenges, structured and unstructured networking sessions, and participatory plenary sessions with leading thinkers in the entrepreneurship space.

For more information, please follow updates on Twitter via the #ANDE2011 hashtag or visit http://bit.ly/rov6CN

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is a global network of organizations that invest money and expertise to propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Officially launched in 2009, we are a member-driven organization housed within the Aspen Institute, an international non-profit that promotes enlightened leadership. Our members are the vanguard of a movement that is focused on small and growing businesses (SGBs) that create economic, environmental and social benefits for developing countries. Ultimately, we seek to build sustainable prosperity in the developing world. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/ande

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways: seminars, young-leader fellowships around the globe, policy programs, and public conferences and events. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org

Contact:
Carrie Barnes
215-239-4643
[email protected]

SOURCE Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs