NBAD hosts a lecture on clean development

The lecture, the second one in NBAD's Awareness Sharing Knowledge (A.S.K.) quarterly lectures in 2008, will be delivered by Mr. Ivano Ianelli, Chief of the Program Development Unit with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Dubai.

NBAD's A.S.K. lecture series was launched in 2005 as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to encourage organizational learning and information sharing. The lectures provide an interactive forum for customers' employees, business partners, and members of the community to share and communicate up-to-date information, market news and future opportunities and expectations.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.

A Clean Development Mechanism project activity might involve a rural electrification project using solar panels or the installation of more energy-efficient boilers. The mechanism stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions.

'Since its inception in 1968, NBAD has been playing significant and leading roles in the economic and social development of the UAE. This lecture comes as a direct and tangible link to NBAD's approach to corporate social responsibility. We aim to bring world class leaders and experts within the reach of the UAE community and to make comprehensive knowledge sharing opportunities accessible to everyone,'

said Mr. Abdulla Mohammed Saleh AbdulRaheem, NBAD's Senior General Manager and Group Chief Operating Officer

'We are delighted that Mr. Ivano Iannelli, Chief of the Program Development Unit with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), will be speaking at our ASK lecture. It is a valuable opportunity to our stakeholders, customers, business partners, and the community in general to share knowledge and views with one of the experts in this important topic especially as it comes in a time characterized by uncertainties about the future of energy sources and sustainable development,' he added.

'With his extensive knowledge and experiences, Mr. Ivano Iannelli is the perfect choice to discuss these issues. As Chief of the Program Development Unit with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Dubai, he covers the strategy, design, and planning of projects and programs whilst advocating best practices and knowledge sharing. As a management consultant, he helps entities with their strategic initiatives and capacity building towards effective CSR programs and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). He has been very active in bridging the gap between private sector involvement in CSR activities and humanitarian programs, with an effort towards availing of institutional memory and business practices in joint initiatives. Currently, he is working on a project framework to foster the development of the Clean Development Mechanism in the Middle East. He is also pursuing the facilitation of Carbon Projects in some of the challenging rural economies where UNOPS operates in order to avail of CDM financing to boost local economies,' NBAD's Senior General Manager and Group Chief Operating Officer explained.

'Hosting the 11th ASK lecture since the inception of the lecture series, is a milestone and a result of NBAD's commitment to the principle of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its desire to support the community,' said Mrs. Belinda Al Baluchi NBAD's CSR Officer.

'The A.S.K lectures aim to offer continued learning opportunities for our stakeholders as well as to build awareness and knowledge on important global regional and national topics,' she added.

'Historically, banks have been viewed to be the trustees of public funds in addition to their commercial role. And the principles of Corporate Governance and corporate social responsibility are the pillars which underpin the success of an organization,' Mrs. Al Baluchi concluded.