| Bhutan Sees Expanding Opportunities for Socially Responsible Business |
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Thimphu – Monday 28th January 2008 Experts from seven SAARC countries came together on 28th January with 50 representatives from trade, He appreciated companies who are working with the Royal Government to bring health and social services to remote parts of the country, and expressed hope that this trend would lead to greater national development as well as business opportunity.  Dr. Lam Dorji, Executive Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), and a founder member of the SAFoRB said, “It is RSPN’s pleasure to host the country’s first CSR workshop along with the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) with support from Partners in Change, India. By linking into a regional network such as SAFoRB, Bhutan can share our own unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, and also bring our business practices in line with learning from outside.” SAFoRB is a civil society initiative of organizations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Opening the workshop, SAFoRB founding members, Ms. Ambreen Waheed, Executive Director, Responsible Business Initiative-Pakistan and Mr. Rajiv Pradhan, Manager Katalyst-Bangladesh, shared their respective experience in building CSR organizations in a number of countries. Ms. Waheed, introducing the concept of the “triple Bottom-Line” whereby companies document and monitor their social, environmental and financial performance said, “CSR meshes well with GNH to generate larger benefit.” Mr. Pradhan said, “There is a strong business case for CSR. Companies can demonstrate that responsibility pays dividends”.
Mr. Viraf Mehta, Chief Executive of Partners in Change, India said, “CSR is now quite clearly understood as a management concept that enhances business competitiveness for the whole country. Businesses now actively seek ways to become socially and environmentally responsible”. He dwelt in detail on a number of CSR initiatives within the SAARC region as well as in industrialized societies. Moderating the first technical session, RBI’s Dr. Faiz Shah presented a discussion framework for panellists from SAARC nations to share their unique experiences of CSR in action as a driver of competitiveness. Panelists included Mr. Iftekar Ahmad, CEO of the CSR Centre-Bangladesh, Mr. Rajan Gandhi, Society in Action Group-India, Mr. Saffah Faroog, Bluepeace-Maldives, Mr. Rajiv Pradhan representing Nepal, Ms. Ambreen Waheed, RBI-Pakistan, and Mr. P. Muttulingam, Institute of Social-Sri Lanka.
In an attempt to provide Bhutanese perspective of CSR, Mr. Chandra Chettri of BCCI, Mr. Chukey Wangchuk of Bhutan Trust Fund for
 Environmental Conservation, Mr. Pema Wangda, Director general of the Department of Labor, and Pema Gyalpo of Tarayana Foundation made presentations on businesses, environmental, labor, and social aspects of CSR in Bhutan. Many participants including business representatives considered the workshop an eye opener. The Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry was identified as an appropriate organization that could spearhead CSR activities and ensure the ethical business practices in Bhutan. Establishment of a CSR partnership group was also recommended as the next step.
The workshop concluded successfully with words of appreciation and thanks to participants, organizers and resources persons by Mr. Phub Tshering, Seceretary General of BCCI. The workshop was co-financed by Partner in Change, India and RSPN with support from UNDP Bhutan.
The meeting was followed by the second SAFoRB steering committee meeting held in Hotel Dragon Roots on 29th January, 2008.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 June 2008 ) |
industry and civil society at the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to conduct the country’s first Introductory Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The workshop participants included representatives from the Royal government, private business associations, multilateral agencies, Civil Society Organizations, media and members of the South Asia Forum of Responsible Business (SAFoRB). Inaugurating the workshop Dasho Nado Rinchhen, the Honourable Deputy Minister of the National Environment Commission, encouraged Bhutanese entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities emerging from the global trend towards transparent and ethically driven business practices. He said the Royal Government is among the few in the world that encourage social responsibility by legislating limits to the exploitation of natural resources and ensuring that all new projects undergo environmental assessment....
