26/11/2014 06:42 AST
Following an action packed program of speeches and discussions, the opening day of the CSR Summit concluded with a gala evening event hosted by Saudi Arabian Airlines to recognize and celebrate the winners of the CSR Saudi Arabia 2014 Awards, which acknowledged programs and organizations that have contributed to the development of the CSR and sustainability agenda in the country.
Ahmad AlAmri, Assistant General Director for Human Resources at Saudi Arabian Airlines, disclosed the winners of the six awards categories, they are: SEDCO Holding Group, Community Development category, Hilton Worldwide, Education Improvement category; AlMarai Company, Employment Generation category; ENTEC (Environmental Technology), Environmental Sustainability category, Bupa Arabia, Best CSR Impact category; and Bupa Arabia, Best CSR Integrated Organization category.
Commenting on his company’s success in the CSR Saudi Arabia Awards, Eng. Loay Hisham Nazer, Chairman, BUPA Arabia, said: “We are doubly delighted at winning two awards, which recognizes the way in which our social responsibility initiative, that provides free health insurance to orphans is greatly impacting their lives, as well as the way we have made this program well integrated into our strategy and daily operations.”
“Our foremost consideration is to ensure that the orphans across the Kingdom receive the best healthcare services out there in order to help them live longer, healthier and happier lives. This purpose, will for life drive us to be the number one healthcare partner to all the lives we are taking care of,” he added.
Amro Banajah, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at SEDCO Holding, said: “it gives a pride to achieve CSR 2104 award for community development as a result of the efficient enriching program for youth with the needed knowledge to confront life responsibilities later on. The program has achieved positive goals targeting wider sectors of the community; in addition to that, it trains ambassadors and expands training centers by dealing with many specialized centers and making governmental partnerships.”
He further said “the award achieved by establishing specialized programs aim at making a difference positively inside our community. I hope this award is positive incentives to everyone of us to continue this cause, with little effort we can make this difference.”
Day two of CSR Saudi Arabia 2014, which is being held on Nov. 24-26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jeddah, opened with an address by Princess Lamia M. Al Saud, Executive Manager, Media & Communication at Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, in which she spoke about local community engagement and development.
The next speaker was Amr Khashoggi, VP Group Affairs, Zahid Group, whose topic ‘Ensuring CSR contributes to the national agenda’ put forward the question: Is it time to integrate CSR into the national agenda to increase the benefit to the community and society? Khashoggi then discussed the possibility of rolling out a standardized national CSR policy and went on to outline the role of corporates in serving those at the bottom of the social pyramid and how CSR can promote economic and social prosperity across the nation.
Commenting on long-term value through integrated CSR programmes, Faysal Alaquil Director, Business Development & CSR Construction Products Holding Company, said: "In today’s interconnected global economy the long term value and success of any business is linked to the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into corporate management and operations. CPC is taking a significant step forward to develop capabilities in Corporate Sustainability by creating a specialized division in CSR focused on the following: education, health and special needs, youth and welfare, good business practice and the environment.”
Saudi Gazette
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