First Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Certified training on Sustainability Reporting comes as part of the Chamber's efforts in supporting businesses implement responsible business practices
Dubai, UAE: With Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) being increasingly viewed as a strategic tool for high performance business operations, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Center for Responsible Business, organized a two-day Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Certified Training for Sustainability Reporting at the Chamber premises on February 23 and 24.
This first GRI Certified training in the UAE, held in partnership with Amsterdam-based GRI and was conducted by Nelmara Arabex, Learning Services Director, GRI Amsterdam. The Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy supported the GRI Training course by sponsoring 10 representatives from six companies belonging to the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group.
The participants including directors and managers in the areas of CSR and Ethics, HR, Communication, Risk, Strategic Management and Excellence had ample opportunity to share experiences and learn from the experts the latest tools on sustainability reporting. Participants will be awarded GRI certificates after successful completion of the post-course participant questionnaire sent by GRI.
Dr Belaid Rettab, Senior Director, Economic Research and Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber, said: "As part of our role in supporting businesses in implementing responsible business practices we see social and environmental reporting as a management tool that enables companies to have a more systematic approach to sustainability by defining strategy, measuring progress and setting targets for improvement. This training will help managers to build the internal business case to begin the CSR reporting process and to guide them through the labyrinth of tools and standards."
The Foundation is a United Arab Emirates philanthropic organisation, established by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 2005 to facilitate new public-private initiatives for social betterment. Its work is summarized through three key themes - Youth Leadership, Knowledge Creation and Society & Culture. The Foundation's Chairman is HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister.
Foundation CEO Peter Cleaves commented: "The Emirates Foundation is very pleased to support this Dubai Chamber initiative. One of our missions is to encourage private companies to follow socially responsible practices with positive long term outcomes for the UAE. This project will build awareness and capabilities, and will help place the UAE in a leadership position regionally and internationally."
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Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favorable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub
© Press Release 2010
