Public, private sector organisations urged to adopt corporate social responsibility

AMMAN - Corporate social responsibility (CSR) goes beyond charity activities or marketing and public relations, participants at a conference on CSR said on Tuesday, calling on public and private sector organisations in the Kingdom to adopt the practice as an integral element of their business strategies.

Also known as corporate citizenship or responsible business, CSR encourages firms to act ethically and promote public interest in their local communities.

"CSR is a national duty that seeks to resolve major problems facing economic growth and social prosperity," Sharif Fares Sharaf, president of the Social Security Corporation’s investment unit said.

He added that the SSC investment unit has adopted CSR practices with a special focus on "moral investment and contribution to sustainable development that serves society and the environment, while maintaining investment revenues at good levels".

More than 300 representatives of various public and private sector organisations took part in the event, titled, "Corporate Social Responsibility: A Cultural and an Institutional Approach 2009”, which focused on ways to incorporate CSR in the firms’ long-term strategies and foster an ethical business culture in Jordan.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Nabil Sharif highlighted the role of the media in encouraging corporations to adopt CSR as a means to reach out to society and local communities.

Urging media outlets to become part of the effort to develop CSR in the Kingdom, he also called for coordination between public and private sector organisations in promoting socially conscious business practices.

In his address at the event, Amman Mayor Omar Maani noted that CSR is central to the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) strategy for 2009-2015.

Held under the patronage of HRH Princess Rym Ali, the conference was organised by Excellence, Inc., the SSC investment unit and GAM.