1st October, Abu Dhabi: The Arabia CSR Network recently conducted a training session on the latest version of the sustainability reporting framework by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Framework - G4. The training, held in Abu Dhabi, aimed to build the capacity of the sustainability team at Borouge, a leading provider of innovative value creating plastics solutions. To date ACSRN has trained more than 130 CSR and management professionals to develop their organization's sustainability reports.

Borouge has been publishing sustainability reports since 2009. The latest one, published in 2012, was in accordance with GRI G3.1. The Arabia CSR Network built the capacity of the sustainability committee to improve their stakeholder engagement and materiality process. The training also emphasized how Borouge has to play a more active role in building their sustainability strategy by using the overall business strategy as a foundation.

"The training by Arabia CSR network has been conducted in a very professional manner with three facilitators and each of them had very firm grip on the topics that are presented and explained. It has brought a lot of clarity in the concepts and would help us to generate the next Borouge Sustainability Report (on G3.1 and eventually G4) with improved quality, better focus and enhanced materiality," stated one of the trainees at the session.

The training covered various aspects of sustainability reporting that helps organizations measure, report and improve their sustainability performance through the internationally recognized GRI framework. Some of these aspects include stakeholder materiality, effective communication and engagement with stakeholders and more. The training also covered the latest version of the sustainability reporting framework, i.e. the recently launched GRI G4 guidelines. Furthermore, ACSRN customized the training to include further details on GRI's specific reporting requirements the oil & gas sector.

"As the first body certified by the GRI headquarters in The Netherlands to offer training services for both G3.1 and G4 to organizations and individuals in the Arabic speaking Middle East countries, Arabia CSR Network has relied on its vast experience of promoting sustainable development through its various programs to design and deliver its training course in such a way as to ensure that participants receive optimal benefit from the course" said Habiba Al Marashi, President of Arabia CSR Network and the UN Global Compact GCC Network.

The GRI training is one of the many programs that the Network offers. To ensure credibility of sustainability reports, ACSRN also offers external sustainability assurance services to companies in the MENA region. Furthermore, ACSRN organizes one of the largest corporate social responsibility awards programs - the Arabia CSR Awards. This program will culminate with a high-profile Forum an Awards Ceremony that will take place in Dubai on 24th October 2013.

About the Arabia CSR Network
The Arabia CSR Network grew out of the EEG CSR Network, which has been actively advancing CSR in the UAE and Gulf region since 2004. The Arabia CSR Network was officially launched in October 2009 as an independent network, and offers its members a multi-stakeholder platform to network, learn and share their experiences and knowledge in matters of Corporate Social Responsibility with each other. The Arabia CSR Network was the first GRI certified training partner for the Arabia speaking Middle East countries. So far it has trained more than 130 CSR professionals from 11 countries in the region. For more information, please visit www.arabiacsrnetwork.com

About the Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a large network of thousands of individual representatives from businesses, NGOs, experts, governmental agencies, etc in more than 40 countries. Its mission is to develop and disseminate reporting guidelines to assist organizations and their stakeholders in articulating and understanding contributions of the reporting organizations to sustainable development. Business, social and environmental advocates, labour, the financial community, the UN, and other stakeholders worldwide collaboratively developed the Guidelines. For more information, please visit www.globalreporting.org

About Borouge
Borouge, a manufacturer of polyoleofins, is a joint venture of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Austria's Borealis. It was founded in 1998, and has two complementary ventures: Abu Dhabi Polymers Co Ltd (Borouge) - a production company based in Abu Dhabi - and Borouge Pte Ltd based in Singapore. The company supplies polyolefin plastics - polyethylene and polypropylene. Currently a new project (Borouge 3) is in process of development, and will increase production capacity by an additional 2.5 million tons per annum. The Borouge 3 project is due to commence start up operations at the end of 2013. For more information, please visit http://www.borouge.com

Habiba Al Marashi
President/CEO, Arabia CSR Network
President, UN Global Compact Network GCC States
GRI Stakeholder Council Member
T: +971.4.344.8622 | F: +971.4.344.8677
E: admin@arabiacsrnetwork.com | W: www.arabiacsrnetwork.com

© Press Release 2013