Dubai Dialogue focuses on development goals

The annual Dubai Dialogue, which was attended by a large number of company representatives interested in integrating corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the UAE and the region.

Delegates at Dubai Dialogue hosted by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday. — Supplied photo

Dubai: The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Centre for Responsible Business organised the Dubai Dialogue – ‘Sustainability Matters Conference: Re-thinking Multi Stakeholder Partnerships to Drive Sustainability in the UAE’, at the Chamber auditorium on Monday.

The annual Dubai Dialogue, which was attended by a large number of company representatives interested in integrating corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the UAE and the region.

Hisham Al Shirawi, second-vice chairman, Dubai Chamber, said that CSR and sustainability in the past decade have moved from a fragmented approach to an integrated strategic process as best practices generate competitiveness for companies and has a meaningful impact on society.

‘‘Today, there is a heightened awareness of the value CSR and sustainability generates as a risk and reputation management tool and that the challenges of sustainable development can be achieved through collaboration and knowledge-sharing which are the objectives of Dubai Chamber’s Centre for Responsible business which is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year,” he said.

The Centre has also signed another MoU with Dubai SME to activate a special programme to help smaller businesses implement successful CSR schemes, said Al Shirawi while thanking the Chamber members, partners and the business community for their support to the Chamber initiatives over the past 10 years.

In his presentation on CRB: Shaping Corporate Sustainability since 2004, Dr Belaid Rettab, chief economist and senior director, Economic Research and Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber, said that CSR has crystallised as a concept about how businesses can contribute to the greater goal of sustainable development and improve the wellbeing of society.

The conference concluded with a Panel Session on the Role of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in Managing UAE’s Sustainability Agenda, specifically the process and challenges in determining prioritising issues, identifying and tracking issues, and developing PPP strategies to address social, economic, and environmental impact areas.

One of the speakers, Dr Eng Marzia Traverso, Sustainability Expert at BMW Group – Munich, said: ‘‘Joining the Roundtable of Social Metrics is part of the long term strategy of BMW Group, to have and implement a comprehensive sustainability assessment at product level.”

Elena Espinoza, head of Advisory Services, Strategy, BITC UK, stated that with over 30 years’ experience forging better relationships between business and society, we stimulate action by challenging and supporting thousands of businesses to create a fairer society and a more sustainable future — through our local, national and international campaigns.

Minelle Gholami, Senior. HR Business Partner, Emrill Services, said: “The Dubai Chamber has established an incredible platform for social responsibility with the CSR accreditation and Emrill is honoured to have received this award. Emrill’s strategies, policies and corporate culture are founded on enduring CSR initiatives.”

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