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Outside the United States
We began to expand our supplier diversity programs outside the U.S. in 2003. Our supply base includes diversity suppliers in China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.
Before we can establish a supplier diversity program in countries without defined diversity programs, we need to identify the minority groups in that country. This can be a challenge. For example, laws or culture may prohibit asking questions about the ethnicity or gender of the business owner. Some countries have no agreement on how to define a minority group, and other countries have large numbers of different minority groups. For example, China has 55 ethnic minorities.
We work with local diversity organizations to identify minority categories and to contact diversity suppliers. In 2008, we became a founding member and provided seed funding to Minority Supplier Development (MSD)-China, which aims to certify ethnic minority-owned businesses in China.
In 2009, the Motorola Foundation donated $25,000 to WEConnect International, a non-profit organization that was created to increase opportunities for women-owned businesses to succeed in globally. WEConnect International certifies businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and are based outside of the United States.
In 2010, we supported and participated in a WEConnect International event at the American Embassy in Beijing, which brought together China's most successful women business owner associations with over 20 multinational corporations to discuss potential business opportunities.
We are a member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council's international advisory committee. The committee is helping to develop organizations in Australia, Canada, China, South Africa and the U.K. that will certify ethnic minority-owned businesses in those countries.
Recognizing business excellence in China
Deployed by non-profit, MSD China and funded by the Motorola Foundation, the Motorola Cup Most Competitive Minority Business Enterprise Contest rewards suppliers that have built strong business competitiveness.
“There is a large pool of talented and diligent minority suppliers who are able to grow the business, compete with other suppliers of excellence, and add value to the corporate supply chain,” said Yang Liu, the director of MSD China, “what we need to do is to bring them to the light and ensure them equal access to procurement opportunities.”
Minority suppliers entering the contest are assessed by a panel of academics, government officials and representatives from multinationals and minority businesses. The winning ten companies are presented with a grant to enable them to fund changes to their business that will make them more competitive.