Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can help in achieving Qatar's objectives as specified in its National Vision for 2030, HE Dr Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs said yesterday.
Addressing a seminar on CSR, organised by the French embassy, he said CSR had an increased importance these days, where most companies and business institutions in the private sector understood the need to maintain a healthy relationship with the local communities.
He said that public and private companies were becoming more attentive to the operations of the communities in which they operate. Any activity undertaken by any company and institution would have economic, cultural, social and environmental impact.
"No one company can grow in isolation from the environment from which it operates. This is true for all companies... For economic growth to turn into a sustained economic growth, it requires, apart from a high growth rate, a participatory approach and an interactive relationship between companies and their communities," he said.
The minister said the role of the government was to create the right environment for such initiatives.
He also highlighted the role of civil society and educational institutions in providing community-based initiatives.
"We are proud to acknowledge that Qatari companies and French companies operating in Qatar play a major role in shouldering the government part of social responsibility," he added.
Ambassador Jean-Christophe Peaucelle said France shared the same objectives as specified in its National Vision 2030 initiated by Father Emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and as continued by Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. He said this long-term development strategy focused not only on the diversification of the economy but embraces the social welfare, the human development and the protection of the environment as well.
"The bilateral relations between our countries are ancient and excellent in the political, cultural and economic fields. I wish that CSR can be added as a new topic of reflection and exchanges between our two countries," he added.
Later in the seminar, Bureau Veritas and Vigeo introduced CSR, its objectives, its benefits and its challenges. Qatari representatives, notably from Qatar Petroleum, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and Qatar Foundation, presented the steps taken to improve CSR practices locally in the fields of sustainable development and workers welfare.
The event was supported by the Qatari French Business Club, the French Trade Advisers, Ubifrance, and the French companies Air France and Auditoire Qatar.
© Gulf Times 2014
