UAE firms join global 'good citizens' movement

"Despite the image sometimes portrayed of regional companies, more and more are demonstrating their leadership by advancing responsible corporate citizenship," said Kosta Petrov, Conference Manager of the 5th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit that takes place at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, from 14 to 19 June 2008.

"These enlightened regional companies are seeking practical solutions to contemporary problems related to globalisation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility," he added. "These issues go to the heart of the CSR Summit which aims to monitor, measure and guide a company's relationship with the community and the environment.

"The financial bottomline benefit is to improve brand management, employee morale and productivity as well as operational effectiveness - which any business person can understand."

The UN Global Compact is the world's largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative with over 5000 participants across 120 countries with 60 local networks.

The compact commits companies to principles on human rights, labour standards, the environment and corruption, with the aim of improving the "social legitimacy" of businesses.

The Network in the Gulf Co-operation Council States of the UN Global Compact was formed earlier this year in Dubai - a move which spurred new members - and the United Arab Emirates is leading the way with almost 20 participants, according to the compact's website.

The current pioneering UAE participants in the compact are: Arabtec Construction; the Centre for Management Excellence; Condor Building Contracting; Dubai International Academic City; the Emirates Environmental Group; Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company; Emirates NBD; Energy Management Services; Integrated Contract and Supply Solutions; Masafi Company; Metito; Pacific Controls Systems; Pryme Partners; RA International; Sabban Property Investments; Sama Dubai; Tameer Holding Investments; Tatweer Dubai; and Total Project Management.

One of the earliest regional companies to join was Aramex, one of the world's leading transportation solutions providers. "Sustainability is the way of the future, it requires commitment and innovation to develop and integrate into the daily practice of organisations," Fadi Ghandour, the company's CEO and founder, said recently.

Dubai-listed Aramex was also the first company in the region to release an audited sustainability report that showcases its commitment to the community and the environment - setting an ambitious target to be the first carbon neutral company in the industry.

Aramex Gulf region CEO Hussein Hachem will be identifying the importance of sustainability reporting at the 5th CSR Summit.

The CSR Summit Awards programme will honour companies in the GCC for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programmes.

The projects must demonstrate a company's leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment to incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for individuals, communities and the environment in the way they conduct business.

The CSR Summit is leading by example. During a special gala dinner attended by Madam Sia Koroma, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, organisers IIR Middle East hope to raise more than Dhs500,000 for orphans in the west African state.

Sponsors of the 5th CSR Summit are the Dow Chemical Company, Dubai Properties and Microsoft. Supporters of the Summit are CSR Middle East, Dubai Centre for Corporate Values, the UN Development Programme and Dubai Drums.