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Social Economy

Putting the social and environmental in business

26 February Feb 2016 1340 26 February 2016
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The Social Enterprise World Forum 2016 will be taking place in Hong Kong this September 2016. By bringing together social enterprises from all over the world, the forum aims to support and enhance those engaging in business that puts communities and the environment at the centre of their mission.

Globally, social enterprises employ up to 6% of the working population. With the baby boomer mentality behind us, social enterprises focus on creating a positive impact in their local communities and environments.
Social enterprises place helping others at the core of their mission. Like any business, they work to generate a profit. But instead of keeping it, they reinvest it with social and environmental objectives.
From ending poverty in urban ghettos, addressing inequality and social exclusion, to making our current food system more sustainable, promoting indigenous culture, and meeting health needs, social enterprises build strong communities and vibrant local economies.

The Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) 2016 will be taking place in Hong Kong this September 25-27. The aim of the forum it is "to provide the tools that contribute to enhancing your knowledge and skills, building a supportive public policy environment, and creating a network of collaboration and sharing." By bringing together social enterprises from all over the world, the SEWF will provide a valuable platform for interaction, keynote speakers, and the possibility to learn from best practices.

The theme this year is "New Frontiers, New Markets". Speakers and participants will discuss how social enterprise is shaping the economy from local, national, and global perspectives, the competitive value of social enterprises, and how to build up the social enterprise ecosystem.
They will also tackle the new frontier: changing the language and values of “Business”. Combining financial sustainability with social and environmental objectives is one of the foremost challenge faced by social enterprises, and will be a key topic of discussion at the global forum.

By dealing with practitioner experiences, challenges and transferrable solutions, the SEWF 2016 is set to support and enhance existing social enterprises, create lasting connections, and continue bringing the social enterprise forwards as a force for good in the global economy.

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