Companies honoured for CSR commitments at annual CSR Summit Awards

The Awards are part of the 6th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit which takes place from 18 - 22 October 2009 at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai.

The main aim of CSR Summit Awards is to recognise the value of CSR programmes not just in terms of PR but in terms of how they can help to develop responsible business practices within an organisation and so in turn can leverage transparency, confidence and long-term corporate success in markets shaken by the crisis.

The CSR Summit Awards have attracted over 30 nominations from top organisations. 2009 nominees include Procter & Gamble, Dubai Islamic Bank, Saudi German Hospitals, TECOM, Du, THE One, Agility Logistics, Dow Chemical, DANA Gas, Al Fahim Group, Al Fozal, Etisalat, Emirates NBD, Al Baik Food Systems, Al Ahli Group, BAPCO, DAFZA, Savola Group, Dubai Healthcare City and National Commercial Bank.

"The CSR Summit Awards honour and showcase organisations that have made notable contributions to further corporate citizenship in the Gulf or broader Middle East, we are pleased with the overwhelming participation of top organisations," noted Annemarie Franssen, Conference Director for the 6th CSR Summit. "By drawing attention to these organisations, we aim to acknowledge their efforts, as well as to encourage and provide models for other organisations to look to for their own CSR efforts."

The 6th CSR Summit is the longest running CSR Summit in the region and debates CSR as a lever for trust, confidence and long-term corporate success. To discuss these issues and also how the public and private sector can cooperate to integrate CSR in the overall strategy, a panel of regional and international experts will share their vision. Headline speakers include Abdulla Al Awar, CEO, DIFC, Louis Hakim, CEO, Philips Middle East and Mohamed Khammes, Executive Board Member, Young Arab Leaders.

Other prevalent issues to be presented at the summit include the latest rules and regulations affecting CSR and Saudi's Responsible Competitiveness Index, SAGIA's initiative to encourage and reward the Kingdom's responsible companies, sectors, cities, regions and at the national level.

"Businesses everywhere are searching for a new model. The financial crisis has not only shaken shareholder confidence but the confidence of business itself. How should the private sector respond and how can the public sector harness the best of the business sector? What are the new ethical responsibilities of the public, private sector and NGOs? It's important for leaders and senior managers to understand that CSR is an important feature of what organisations will be doing in the future," added Annemarie.

An impressive line-up of regional and international companies will speak at the event, including Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Chamber Centre for Responsible Business, Stand Chartered Bank, Microsoft, Starbucks and Emirates Wildlife Society.

The 6th CSR Summit 2009 will take place at JW Marriott Hotel from 18 to 22 October 2009. The highlights in this five day event will include a Two-Day Conference, Three Summit workshops CSR in times of crisis, CSR communications and CSR reporting and our prestigious CSR Summit Awards.