EEG partners 4th CSR Summit, organises First-of-Its-Kind Full Fledged Workshop on CSR Training for GCC businesses.

Dubai, UAE, June 25, 2007: Half of the world's top 250 companies today have active Corporate Social Responsibility programmes that focus on the social impact of their business. Mammoth multinationals such as Nike and Coke, to regional leaders such as Al Safi Danone and Oryx (Al Maha Enterprises), are all recognising the importance of CSR.

"The beginnings of CSR in Europe and North America, were driven by NGOs exposing companies for irresponsible behaviour. Without this pressure, the CSR agenda would not be where it is today. However, I like to think that NGOs such as the EEG are less about advocacy and more about action -- that doesn't mean we are less committed to our cause, but rather that we see our role as one of collaboration and partnership to achieve our aims," said Ms.Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson, Emirates Environmental Group.

She was addressing the 4th CSR Summit in Dubai, a pathbreaking 4-day event which kicked off at the Dusit Dubai Hotel yesterday. The event brought together top executives from 18 countries to discuss issues and trends in CSR.

"When the EEG-CSR Network was established in March 2004 there were three founding members. Today our membership has swelled to 33. This is not only indicative of the success of our Network but also of the changing attitude towards CSR in the UAE and the wider region,"

Ms.Marashi analysed the role of NGOs in promoting CSR values. "CSR as a concept or even an industry may not be as developed in this part of the world as elsewhere but it is growing rapidly. Companies are demonstrating a real appetite for knowledge, they want to know what CSR means for them and how it can be interpreted in the context of the UAE and the Arab world," she said.

That is not all on the agenda for the week. EEG has also organised a three-day training programme for managers and key executives that will start tomorrow at the JW Marriott Hotel. This is a full-fledged training course on CSR. Conducted by the prestigious Asian Institute of Management, Manila, this CSR training workshop is intended to be an advanced course for the EEG CSR Network Founding Members and interested organisations.

The training programme is aimed at boosting EEG's ongoing efforts to promote sustainability in business and encourage GCC companies to adopt CSR principles and practices. It will seek to bring in focus emerging issues and concerns in CSR within the regional context.  

Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), the UAE's oldest environmental organisation has long believed in partnering the private sector for the stewardship of the environment. EEG's multi-stakeholder approach has created several unique programmes to build capacity and raise awareness of CSR issues in the region.

-Ends-

EEG-CSR Network
EEG's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Network is a platform for bringing private corporations to explore effective management of corporate social responsibility and community participation.  As part of the annual activities of the Network, the EEG has been regularly organising seminars and workshops covering a vast range of topics related to environment protection and business issues in the implementation of CSR objectives. The seminars in the past have brought together rich perspectives from key actors in the government and business sector at local, regional and global levels.

EEG has been organising workshops and seminars on CSR since the past three years. In March this year, EEG organised a successful seminar on the theme "Climate Change - business risk or opportunity".  EEG's CSR Network is a platform for CSR learning, sharing and exchange. Established in March 2004, it is recognised locally and internationally as a leading on-the-ground initiative founded on multi-stakeholder partnerships. The EEG CSR Network is well in its second phase of development now. During this time EEG has embarked on ambitious programmes, including best practices research and resource compilation, trainings, and partnership with the United Nations Global Compact

About EEG
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) is a voluntary, non-government organisation (NGO) devoted to protecting the environment through means of education, action programs and community involvement. EEG is actively encouraged and supported by concerned local and federal government agencies. It is the first environmental NGO in the world to be ISO 14001 certified and the only organization of its kind in the UAE with accredited status to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). In 2005 EEG was awarded accredited status to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s Governing Council. It is also a member of the Board of the United Nations Global Compact and is a focal point for the formation of local networks in the Arabian Gulf region. EEG is open to men and women of all nationalities, as well as to public and private organisations, academic establishments and international institutions.

For more information contact:
Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson EEG 
Tel: 04-3318100
Fax: 04-3328500
Shalaka Paradkar
GSM: +971502510765
email: eeg@emirates.net.ae
Website: www.eeg-uae.org

© Press Release 2007