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Middle East Leaders Place CSR as Top Functionality with 22 Percent

7th CSR Summit highlights green initiatives, growth opportunities, profitability and trends; Habiba Al-Marshi and Asad Mahmood among key speakers
Dubai - May 25^th 2010: A recent survey on Middle East leaders views on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) across different business functionalities stated that 22 percent of companies focus on CSR activities, followed by 17 percent on general management[1]. The survey was conducted across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Jordan and Qatar.

"The UAE utilizes massive levels of water and energy in huge projects. The need of the hour is ultra green solutions like solar energy plants and options in bio-fuel. The region needs to work with nature and utilize more natural resources like water, land and sunlight," said Alan Knight, Founder of Single Planet Living; Independent Advisor to Virgin Group and speaker at the 7^th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit.

Key discussions points at the summit are set to include CSR opportunities in recessionary times, CSR as a risk management tool and dealing with CSR controversies.

CSR initiatives have moved beyond purely social causes to support the environment and environmental sustainability. Corporations are now seeking a more holistic approach to show social responsibility within the framework of their current and future business operations.

"Good CSR should not be seen as a burden but a benefit to both businesses and the community. The key is to view it as an investment, rather than an expense," said Bansri Shah, Director, CSR Summit.

The four-day summit will witness high-level speakers that include Robert Swan OBE, the first person in history to walk to both the North
and South poles, Habiba Al-Marshi, Chairwoman of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), Tom Ehr, Director of MTV Foundation, Thomas Bergmark, Sustainability Manager, IKEA among others.

The 7^th CSR Summit is being held from May 30^th - June 3^rd, 2010 at Hotel Shangri-La, Dubai, UAE.

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About the 7^th CSR Summit
Organised by IIR Middle East, the 7^th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit will touch upon challenges and issues facing organizations in these times of economic crisis. The event is looking at over 100 attendees. Key issues like CSR Opportunities in recessionary times, managing the changing role of the CSR professional and CSR as a risk management tool will be debated by eminent speakers among others.

For more details about the Summit and the full programme, please visit www.thecsrsummit.com

About IIR Middle East:
The Institute of International Research (IIR) is part of Informa plc, the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional and commercial business communities. Informa has more than 150 offices in more than 40 countries, employs over 9,000 staff globally and is the largest publicly owned organiser of conferences and courses in the world with an output of over 10,000 events annually.

For more than 35 years IIR has been the leader in facilitating business knowledge and skills delivered through cutting edge conferences, training programmes and industry led exhibitions.

Operating in the Middle East since 1993, IIR Middle East is the leading event organiser regionally. Key expertise allows us to identify trends ahead of the curve by responding quickly to market needs to bring global thought leaders and industry experts into the region.

For media requests, please contact:
Phone +971 (4) 4472501
Email team@tcf-me.com
P.O. Box 29764
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Fax +971 (4) 447 2505

[1] Sustainability Advisory Group Report - What Do Middle Eastern Leaders Think About CSR

© Press Release 2010