中国香港机构“全球未来研究所”（The Global Institute for Tomorrow简称GIFT）旨在促进商业领袖及政策制定者认识国际接轨带来的挑战与机遇。GIFT现正诚征项目，通过制定商业发展计划汇集国际企业管理人员、非营利机构以及投资者共同促进亚洲发展中地区的可持续发展。 

Call for Projects – Global Institute For Tomorrow

The Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT)  is constantly looking for projects in developing Asian regions, in which we work closely with local enterprises, NGO’s, communities and investors to bring about business-driven sustainable development outcomes.

If your organization would like to propose a project to GIFT, please read on about project selection criteria, and the information we need to gauge a project’s investment suitability.

1. GIFT Project Criteria

The projects that GIFT looks for –in rural or urban settings – would typically display the following characteristics:

• The project adopts a business approach through which self-sustaining benefits for local communities, businesses and investors are realistically achievable.

• Where the project proponent has been operating for a number of years and has built a solid operational track record in the process. The project proponent is now looking for external injection of capital to expand its businesses.

• The project engenders a solid business/revenue model i.e. there is clear market demand for the product or service offerings .

• The project has the potential to nurture local entrepreneurs whose activities would create sustained social and environmental benefits for local communities.

• There is strong local leadership, in terms of problem-solving and entrepreneurial mindsets. Having existing or potential local entrepreneurs with the desire and capability to start businesses is particularly crucial for ensuring long term success.

• The project has the potential to substantially scale up and replicate.

• Infrastructures such as roads, water supply, and electricity are in place.

• The project proponent has built strong relationships in the project area over a number of years.

• The project area is not in a major conflict-zone.

GIFT is open to co-financing arrangements whereby there is already an existing investor previously brought into the project by the local partner. Issues regarding exclusive product purchase/licensing/marketing agreements will need to be further discussed between the parties involved.

GIFT takes a business-oriented rather than aid approach, and does not see itself as a donor agency, nor our NGO and local partners as aid recipients.

As an example of a GIFT sustainable development project, we are currently following through on a project in Yunnan, China, where we work closely with investors to set up a business that would procure and market non-timber-forest-products to overseas markets. We work with local partners which help farmers to set up NTFP cooperatives on the backend of the supply chain, whilst the company will work on marketing and export aspects of the business.

Another investment opportunity in Hebei Province, China involves a biogas-driven agribusiness, with the potential to develop or expand upon four business lines:

• Generate renewable energy from a biogas operation;

• Produce bio-fertiliser using sludge from the biogas process as raw materials;

• Trade carbon credits arising from the project; and

• In the longer term, produce organic pork and vegetables to supply burgeoning markets in China.

If you wish to propose a project to GIFT, please submit a brief description of your current activities to Freda Tong, E: ftong@global-inst.com