Alba hosts key workshop to promote environmental responsibility among business organisations

As a key step in fulfilling this vision, Alba hosted a day-long intensive workshop entitled, 'Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Challenges and Opportunities' at the Alba Club on Sunday, May 24, 2009.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Governor of the Southern Governorate and the President of the General Directorate for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, the workshop was organised by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) in partnership with Alba and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

The event, which is one of a series of seven workshops AFED is holding in Beirut, Amman, Manama, Kuwait and Dubai, with two in Dhahran, brought together executives from more than 35 leading private corporations and public sector bodies.

It was led by the Director of AFED's Corporate Responsibility Programme, Bashar Zeitoon and presented frameworks for incorporating environmental responsibility goals into business strategies.

In his welcome address, Alba Chief Executive Ahmed Saleh Al-Noaimi remarked that it was a privilege to work together with AFED and UNEP in organising this unique workshop and enjoy the opportunity of sharing experiences and learning from other organisations in this journey towards greater sustainability.

"Alba has played a pioneering role in issues related to environmental protection and was awarded the United Nations Millennium Award for these efforts. As an organisation, therefore, we are committed towards developing cleaner technology, investing in greener initiatives and spreading environmental awareness because we believe these measures to be necessary towards achieving sustainable development," Al-Noaimi said.

"We consider 'environmental responsibility' to be a valuable ingredient for businesses since it fulfils one of the broader goals of the Abu Dhabi Declaration for a cleaner environment, and provides practical steps in converting those goals into action plans," he added.

"The success in our various environmental projects has been made possible due to the consistent support and active encouragement we have received from the Alba Board, in general, and the Chairman, Mr. Mahmood Hashim Al Kooheji, in particular. Their support is a clear indicator of the priority given to environmental social responsibility at the highest level and the importance that the company gives towards promoting these values," explained Mr. Al-Noaimi.

The Director of the Environmental Evaluation and Planning Directorate, Zahra Kawari expressed her appreciation at the keen interest shown by the commercial and industrial sector in promoting environmental awareness and sustainable development.

"We believe that it is a significant step towards long-term growth and prosperity when the government receives active support from members of the private sector in chalking out strategies that would strengthen business goals as well as protect the environment. This workshop is a worthy effort in this direction and we trust that its outcome will lead to bold proposals and important recommendations that would help in Bahrain's overall development," said Ms. Kawari.

UNEP's Regional Director and Representative for West Asia, Dr. Adel Fareed Abdul Qader said in a statement, "Arab countries, like the rest of the world, are experiencing the effects of economic recession, which call for efficient and immediate action. Today's economic slowdown presents us with a rare opportunity to re-direct our energies and resources toward making a transition to more sustainable patterns of development."

Dr. Qader called for "Turning high unemployment, food and water security risks, and climate change into green opportunities." Explaining that the Green Economy Initiative "Would be anchored in investments in environmental assets, clean and efficient production, renewable energy and regenerative urbanisation," he further noted that the workshops are carried out in cooperation with UNEP's Economics and Trade Branch in Geneva.

"More and more companies are considering environmental initiatives. This strongly suggests that market forces are increasingly powerful drivers of corporate environmental improvement," said Dr. Riyad Hamza, AFED Board of Trustees member.

"This workshop, part of our Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) program, assists business managers steer their complex organisations through transition to environmentally responsible enterprises, and learn how to remain profitable while acting in an environmentally sustainable way."

Dr. Hamza thanked UNEP for its support, and commended AFED's corporate member, Alba, for playing a major part in making this workshop possible.

He invited other companies to join AFED's CER program and become leaders in incorporating environmental issues into their goals for the future.

Alba has been consistently ranked as one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world and is known for its technological strength and innovative policies. It has consistently maintained a high track record for safety and continues to enforce strict environmental guidelines and has surpassed production targets set for the year.

It supports numerous community oriented programmes and social activities that have underlined its status as one of Bahrain's leading industrial organisations that remains fully committed to its corporate social responsibility.