The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) have opened nominations for the 2008 World Business and Development Awards in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The awards recognize the contribution of the private sector to help achieve the MDGs through their core business. Recent winners of these awards have been De Beers for its HIV/Aids programme, ITC eChoupal and Procter and Gamble's PuR water purifier.

The MDGs are eight goals that promote poverty reduction, education, maternal health, and gender equality, and aim to combat child mortality, HIV/AIDS and other diseases (for more information click here). The World Business and Development Awards is one of the central events this year that will recognize the key contributions of the private sector to achieve the MDGs.

The deadline for nominations for the World Business and Development Awards is 15 June. Companies, institutions and associations of all types and sizes are invited to participate by nominating projects that document business activities leading to progress in achieving one or more of the MDGs. The winners will be announced on 24 September during a presentation ceremony in New York.

For more information about the awards, including eligibility criteria and nomination forms, please go here.