Chevron Bangladesh launch an 18 month pilot program for an enterprise
development which will be implemented by BRAC. It will support
approximately 20,000 beneficiaries and up to 1,500 enterprises will be
created during its lifespan. State minister of power energy and
mineral resource inaugurate this program.
In that inaugural ceremony Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid
was the chief guest and United States ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia
Stephens Bloom Bernicat was the special guest. President of Chevron
Asia pacific Exploration and production Melody Meyer; Director of
strategy, communications and empowerment at BRAC Asif Saleh; Managing
Director of chevron Asia south Ltd Brad Middleton; president of
chevron Bangladesh Kevin Lyon were present at the ceremony.
State minister said, “International companies in Bangladesh should
take this kind of initiatives. Chevron makes an example. Now there is
a lot of development in energy and power sector. Hope, In future it
will continue.”
The program is part of five year Bangladesh Partnership Initiative
(BPI). It will be for the communities of the Bibiyana, Jalalabad and
Moulavi Bazar gas field locations where Chevron operates.
Precedent of Chevron Bangladesh Kevin Lyon said, “We feel privileged
that BRAC is partnering with us on this important journey. We’re
confident that their knowledge and experience will help us
significantly improve the socioeconomic standing of our community.”
Mr. Lyon added, “BPI (Bangladesh Partnership Initiative) is a
five-year program, but I hope that its impacts will be sufficiently
far-reaching to continue beyond its lifespan and beyond Chevron’s
intervention.”
Director of strategy, communications and empowerment at BRAC Asif
Saleh said, “The project focuses on inclusion, sustainability and
self-dependence. BRAC’s strength is working in the rural Bangladesh
focusing on holistic development and the partnership with Chevron will
have a bigger impact in generating livelihoods for the target group.
We hope our joint work can give people the tools to climb out of
poverty and lead them towards prosperity.”
Chevron is the leading foreign investor in Bangladesh and also it is
the leading gas lifting organization. Now Chevron is active in
community development through a wide range of activity and programs
that focus primarily on economic development, education and
healthcare.
United States ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat
said, “Chevron’s activities in Bangladesh are proof that the best
companies from partnerships with the countries in which they work and
demonstrate their long-term commitment. Quite simply, strong and
trusting relationships with companies operating at the cutting edge of
technology will be essential for ensuring that Bangladesh continues on
its path of growth and development.”
This pilot will help the organizational capacity of more than 100
self-help groups, comprised of over 3,700 member families. It will
ensure these groups have access to formal micro-credit, strengthen
their capacity on farm based production and help set up more than
1,500 enterprises around three values chains- ducks, goats and
vegetables.
Chevron has been sponsoring economic development social investment
programs in the community since 2006.