Monday, October 28, 2013

Danone-Backed Project Provides Water at Cost to Cambodia


Danone.communities grew out a partnership six years ago with the French bank Credit Agricole SA after Danone Chief Executive Officer Franck Riboud met Nobel Peace Prize-winner Muhammad Yunus. It backs nutrition projects in Bangladesh, Senegal and China, water works in Cambodia, India and Mexico. Photographer: Heng Sinith/AP Photo

By Julie Cruz, Bloomberg News, October 27, 2013

When Francois Jaquenoud knocked on Danone’s door seven years ago seeking clean-water funds for Cambodians, the maker of Evian turned him down. Two years later, Danone reversed course.

Just how did the Paris-based company that’s the biggest yogurt maker get involved half a world away in Cambodia?

Credit dates to when the founder of “1001 Fontaines pour demain,” French for “1,001 Fountains for tomorrow,” crafted a business plan to provide 2 liters (a half-gallon) of safe water a day to each Cambodian. From not a drop in 2004, the former Accenture Plc (ACN:US) consultant’s enterprise now sells water to 100,000 Cambodians at cost: less than a euro cent (1.38 U.S. cents) a liter.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

that's help making a difference in cambodia. nobody in cambodia had to suffer or die from lack of clean drinking water again. time to help develop cambodia for all to live safely!