(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, on Wednesday stressed the importance of corporate social responsibility that has a huge positive impact on local companies and their ability to compete and innovate globally.
Shaikh Ahmed, who is also Chairman of the Dubai Airports and Emirates airline, and Honourary Patron of the Dubai Quality Group or DQG, commended the efforts of experts and investors from major companies for participating in the Dubai Global Convention 2012, including the 7th International Conference on Social Responsibility. In a discussion with participants, he welcomed them to Dubai and called on them to pay attention to investment opportunities offered by the emirate.
The event, which opened at the InterContinental hotel, Dubai Festival City with the theme "Making CSR an Actionable Business Agenda," is organised by the Institute of Directors-India (IOD) in association with Dubai Quality Group (DQG).
The two-day conference features a line-up of international and local senior officials and high-level dignitaries. They include J. S. Ahluwalia, President of the Institute of Directors, Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, Chairman of the IOD-India and former chief justice of India, M. G. George Muthoot, chairman of India's Muthoot Group, Baroness Sandip Verma, Saleh Janeeh, Chairman of the DQG, Khaled Al Kamda, Director General of Community Development Authority in Dubai and Lokesh M.K, Ambassador of India to the UAE.
Janeeh said the DQG, in partnership with the IOD-India, aims to expand the benefits, increase cooperation and further exchange of experiences, ideas, projects and various capabilities that inspire the ambition of organisations and individuals to accelerate the development of their social, trade and economic responsibilities and upgrade their value.
The delegates discussed a set of vital topics in the keynote sessions. These include "Corporate Citizenship & Social Responsibility", "Generating Business value through CSR: Myth or Reality?" among others.
This is in addition to panel discussions focusing on topics including, "Transparency & Accountability for Effective CSR", which was moderated by George Muthoot, "CSR " Unlocking the Value", and "Social Innovation " The Driver of Economic Growth."
The CSR conference is being held for the first time in Dubai city and among its diverse activities is the attendance of more than 100 global delegates, including stakeholders interested in sustainability of business and the well-being of society, creating profits and improving the quality of life for their organisations and communities. It also targets legislators, lawyers, jurists and those concerned with efficient and ethical conduct of corporate and good governance, in addition to philanthropists, chairpersons of companies, directors, presidents, CEOs, CFOs, bankers, fund managers, company secretaries, NGOs, investors, brokers, chartered accountants, management analysts, financial consultants, academics and students of business, finance and management.
Today, case study presentations will be given by the winners of the Golden Peacock National Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility 2011, with titles of value, such as: "Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Creating Shared Value", "Business Case for Social Responsibility" and "Champions of Global CSR." This will be followed by the valedictory session of the convention.
