A vibrant and competitive private sector can empower poor people by providing them with better goods and services at more affordable prices. Policy makers in many developing countries, especially in Africa, have paid greater attention to fostering private sector development as a strategic objective to achieve national development goals. The work of the OECD Development Centre on “Business for Development” aims to contribute to ongoing international initiatives on private sector development in Africa, Asia and elsewhere.

Its activities look at the respective roles that government, business and donors can play in promoting the development of the private sector in developing and emerging economies.

In this context, the Centre has launched the first issue of a series in May 2007, entitled “Business for Development: Fostering the Private Sector ”. In this publication several case studies are presented to provide concrete examples from Africa, Asia and elsewhere on the opportunities for expanding markets and upgrading skills in global value chains as well as on the regulatory conditions that could best promote private sector development.

The second edition of this series, Promoting Commercial Agriculture in Africa , offers a fresh look at African agriculture and seeks ways for it to become a profitable industry.