New Delhi, Apr 30 (KNN) Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can now benefit from the Commonwealth Environmental Investment Platform (CEIP) that has been designed to support low carbon economic growth across the nations.

“CEIP is designed to assist environmental SMEs in Commonwealth nations share knowledge, increase international awareness and facilitate trade and investment in environmental and sustainable technologies,” a BBC report said.

CEIP was inaugurated during the Commonwealth Week in March at the Royal Commonwealth Society. 

With the inauguration of CEIP in the United Kingdom, the report said, SMEs in Nigeria like their counterparts in 53 other Commonwealth nations can benefit from the platform.
CEIP has been developed in alliance between the Royal Commonwealth Society and Forbury Investment Network, which is operated by Clarkslegal LLP, a UK-based leading commercial law firm with firms of lawyers in Reading, London, Cardiff and Swansea.

The platform has already established regional hubs in Canada, England, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa (Cape Town and Durban) and Wales.  Plans are in the pipeline for other hubs in the near future.  Leading environmental consultancy firm - Mabik Union Limited has been listed as the operator for the Nigerian and Ghanaian hubs.

As far as the role of the regional hubs is concerned, they will provide a structured investment network to support Commonwealth businesses, which are seeking either early stage venture capital investment or the support of business angels.

Further, CEIP will also allow companies to share needs and opportunities with partners, trade contacts and interested parties in other Commonwealth countries.
Considering that several Commonwealth countries are currently in need of climate change mitigation technologies, CEIP will assist in identifying possible market opportunities for businesses that have expertise in the sector, with a special focus on SMEs.

Inaugurating the CEIP, the High Commissioner of Canada to the UK, Gordon Campbell, according to the report said, “Enterprise has driven us forward inevitably with something new.  If we can actually take these networks and take these hubs and create a new way of working together, a new way of responding to the challenges we face, we will create not just environmental improvements, but we will create exceptional economic opportunities in a broad range of countries all around the world.  There’s nothing more powerful than an idea that’s been given life through enterprise.”  (KNN)