The Aga Khan Development Network seeks to strengthen the role of the private sector in the developing world. In its approach to the development process, support for private-sector initiatives has intrinsic importance. The private sector can be especially effective in cooperation with governments that foster what the Aga Khan has called an “enabling environment”– favourable legislative, regulatory and fiscal structures. In all areas of social, economic and cultural development, building enabling environments is one of the Network’s foremost goals. This goal has been served in recent years through the establishment of formal agreements with countries where Network institutions operate. Such agreements have been signed with a number of governments in Asia and Africa.