Challenges Online posted on October 23, 2010 07:25
The 9th annual Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) opened in Kuala Lumpur with a call on companies to become more competitive by understanding the important issues that require interaction with civil society and government.
AFCSR is recognised as being the largest and most significant conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Asia. It is now celebrating its ninth year with more than 325 delegates from 26 countries in attendance.
A major thrust in the AFCSR 2010 develops the concept of strategic competitiveness to enhance workplace and HR productivity to become a preferred employer for a motivated organisation. Another key thrust highlight explains how CSR helps business to build its brand value and to attract ethical customers. Other topics discuss how internal efficiencies can be generated through better supply-chain management, sustainable energy management, and "green" practices-initiatives that improve business competitiveness. Finally, the forum focuses on how business can become more competitive by working with the government and by supporting the community through public private partnerships.
Tun Dato' Seri (Dr.) Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid, Chairman of permodalan Nasional Berhad and co-chair of AFCSR 2010 delivered the opening keynote address.
This year's theme is "Improving Business Competitiveness through CSR". More than 50 international speakers will present their views, studies and experience on the topic during the two-day conference. Four exciting back-to-back pre-conference workshops were held on Oct 20, 2010. The pre-conference topics were: Leaders Forum, 3D CSR Therapy - On the Couch with Doc Arby, Local Agenda 21 - Partnering with Local Governments for greater CSR impacts and the Media Workshop which was free to all CSR journalists.
An integral part of AFCSR is the Asian CSR Awards that recognises and honors Asian companies for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programmes in five categories - Best Workplace Practices; Concern for Health; Environmental Excellence; Poverty Alleviation; and Support and Improvement of Education. Co-presented by AIM and Intel, it is the Asia's premier Awards programme on corporate social responsibility. This year's awards programme attracted 141 entries representing 99 companies from 15 countries.
Another major component of the AFCSR is the Asian CSR Expo that showcases the creme de la creme of CSR projects from across Asia. More than 50 booths representing 38 companies are on show at the Expo.
AFCSR 2010 is presented by the AIM RVR Centre and co-presented by GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), and Intel; and runs in cooperation with AIM Kelab Malaysia and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman-Center for Sustainable Development and CSR (UTARjCSR).
[Read More...]