Overwhelming response to 2nd cycle of Arabia CSR Awards

The awards program was launched on May 18, 2009 and will culminate with an Awards Ceremony to be held on October 26, 2009 at Raffles Dubai Hotel.

Arabia CSR Awards was instituted by EEG to honour companies demonstrating a clear vision, strategy and implementation of CSR. This year's edition includes over 50 nominees from diverse industries and various countries. The annual event is supported by the United Nations Global Compact and recognised internationally as a key CSR initiative from the Arab World. Submission of entries for the program closed on August 27, 2009.

"This year we have expanded and streamlined the questionnaire with the underlying goal of placing greater emphasis on the participant's comprehensive CSR strategies rather than looking at ad-hoc initiatives. Organisations need to realise that for corporate social responsibility initiatives to be truly effective they need to be sustained over a period of time. We hope that the Arabia CSR Awards will be a major motivational factor for companies in the region to significantly enhance their CSR focus,"

said Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson, EEG.

Aside from enhancing corporate image, CSR activities have proven to be effective in reducing costs in areas such as power consumption and travel. They have helped in the retention of workers who are interested in joining "Green" initiatives and boosted consumer confidence during the recession. More companies are reporting increased productivity and enhanced staff motivation after including work-life balance, community investment and other CSR strategies into their business agenda. The CSR movement also complements economic, social and environmental programs being implemented throughout the Gulf to thrive despite the downturn.

The Emirates Environmental Group promotes ecological responsibility through education, action programs and community involvement. Since its inception in September of 1991, the group has grown its membership to 1,200 individuals and corporate members, government agencies, educational institutions and renowned international organizations. EEG is the first environmental NGO in the world to be accredited with the ISO 14001 certification for its environment management system.