Armenia     Bulgaria     Chile     Côte d’Ivoire     India     Jordan
Korea     Peru     Sénégal     Singapore     Turkey
Ukraine     United Kingdom     United States     Viet Nam

Armenia
Public Discussion: Corporate Social Responsibility for Armenian Private Companies

On 14 September 2007, the United Nations Development Program, in partnership with the International Center for Human Development (ICHD), organized an interactive public discussion on the ten principles of the UN Global Compact. Seventy participants from various spheres took part in the meeting, which is an important step in ongoing work to fully develop a Global Compact network in Armenia.

Armenia Contacts: Armen Matosyan (armen.matosyan@undp.org), Arman Valesyan (arman.valesyan@undp.org) and Narine Sahakyan (narine.sahakyan@undp.org)

Bulgaria
Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility for Small and Medium Businesses and Advisory Institutions

In June 2007, a two-day international conference, “Corporate Social Responsibility for Small and Medium Businesses and Advisory Institutions in Bulgaria”, was held under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project on the “Development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Central and Eastern Europe”. The event was organized by the European Management Center, with the support of the Bulgarian Global Compact Network and Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum. The aim of the conference was to establish and strengthen ties among institutions and companies working towards ethical business conduct in the region, and to introduce the CSR methodology applied by UNIDO. More than 90 leaders from small and large companies, business associations, public institutions, NGOs, and the media attended.

Bulgaria Contacts: Ralitza Germanova (ralitza.germanova@undp.org) and Maya Nyagolova (maya.nyagolova@undp.org)

Chile
Implementing the UNGC Principles on Labour

The Chilean Local Network, together with the Universidad Andrés Bello and the Pact Commission for Labour Relations, organized a meeting on “Implementing the UNGC Principles on Labour – the Vision of Organizations Dedicated to CSR” in October 2007.

Chile Contact: Margrita Ducci (mducci@unab.cl)

Côte d’Ivoire
Global Compact Launches in Côte d’Ivoire

On 11 September 2007, more than 150 representatives from the private sector, government and civil society gathered in Abidjan for the launch of the Global Compact in Côte d’Ivoire. The Global Compact was officially launched by the Foreign Minister H. E. Bakayoko Youssouf. The launch was preceded by a roundtable on “The Challenges of the Global Compact: Sustainable Development and the Private Sector in Côte d’Ivoire”, with local participants of the Global Compact. The event was organized by the steering committee of the Global Compact, and funded by the founding members of the network in the country with the special support of UNDP.

Côte d’Ivoire Contacts: Guy M'Bengue (mbengue@apexci.org) and Georg Charpentier (charpentier@un.org)


India
Third Annual National Convention of Global Compact Society

On 10 December 2007, the Global Compact Society in India convened their third annual National Convention "Sustainable Development - The Role of the Global Compact".  Over 200 company and civil society representatives gathered in Delhi for this event, including a number of notable Indian CEOs.  Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, attended and made a keynote address during the Inaugural Session.  In a series of working group sessions, Global Compact participants shared their experiences and challenges in implementing the Global Compact principles. This annual forum provides an opportunity for Global Compact participants in India to exchange experiences, network and embark on collaborative efforts aligned with the ten principles.

India Contact: Uddesh Kohli (uddeshkohli@gmail.com)

Jordan
Global Compact Launches in Jordan
 
The official launch of the Global Compact in Jordan was held on 29 October 2007, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah - represented at the event by H.E. Mr. Sharif Al Zoubi, Acting Minister of Trade and Industry. The launch was organized by UNDP Jordan, with the support of the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Trade and Industry, UN International Labour Organization and the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Group Int. More than 200 leaders representing the Government of Jordan, the private sector, UN representatives, the diplomatic corps, academia, media and civil society organizations attended the launch. Three studies were presented assessing the current situation in the private sector in Jordan related to the Global Compact principles. These studies, focusing on anti-corruption, labour rights and environment, aim to provide base-line information on the challenges facing businesses in implementing corporate social responsibility and recommendations for effective planning and implementation activities of the Global Compact Network in Jordan.

Jordan Contact: Matthias Stausberg (stausberg@un.org) 

Korea
Global Compact Korea Network Officially Launched

More than 180 participants, including approximately 70 CEOs, representing Korean business, government, labour and civil society gathered at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul for the inauguration ceremony of the Global Compact Korea Network on 17 September 2007. The event was organized by the UN Global Compact Korea Network Preparatory Committee with the support of UNDP Korea and the ROK Government. The Inauguration Ceremony concluded a comprehensive 18-month outreach effort to promote the Global Compact. The new network brings together more than 82 businesses and other stakeholders, including some of Korea’s largest corporations. During the ceremony, Nam Seung-Woo, CEO of Pulmuone, was elected as the Chairperson of the network’s inaugural Board of Directors, and 19 other CEOs and heads of private and public companies and civil society organizations were elected to serve as the inaugural Board member. The participants of the UNGC Korea Network also adopted the network’s Article of Corporation, as well as its first work plan which maps out strategic and operational priorities.

Korea Contact: Ok-soon Lee (ok-soon.lee@undp.org)

Peru
Spanish Subsidiaries Deepen Engagement in the Global Compact

Eleven subsidiaries of Spanish multinational corporations operating in Peru jointly signed on to the Global Compact in a ceremony on 13 September 2007 in Lima. Through actively participating in the Global Compact’s Local Network in Peru, the companies will work collectively to advance the initiative’s ten principles in the country.  The joint initiative follows recommendations presented in the Buenos Aires Declaration which was presented at the Global Compact Leaders Summit in July 2007. The declaration encourages multinational corporations participating in the Global Compact to extend corporate citizenship practices and policies to their subsidiaries. The following Peruvian subsidiaries joined the Global Compact: Telefónica del Perú, Meliá, Abengoa, Santillana, Telefónica Móviles, KIA, Avanzit, Cobra Perú, Lorente y Cuenca, Certicom and Redesur. The event was organized with the special support of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.

Peru Contact: Mr. Jose Luis Altamiza (jaltamiza@confiep.org.pe)


Sénégal
Global Compact Launches in Sénégal

The launch of the Local Network in Sénégal took place on 7 September 2007 in Dakar, with approximately 100 people in attendance. The network was officially launched by the Minister of Justice, Cheik Tidiane Sy. In his keynote address, Mr. Sy stated: "The government is prepared to support this initiative that will enable the promotion of the universal principles necessary for good practices in the private sector." Ms. Diagne, Minister of Competition and Good Governance added: "It is good to note that the objectives and activities of the department of good governance in Sénégal are in synergy with the United Nations Global Compact principles."

Sénégal Contact: Kathy Tall Sarre (ksarre@sentoo.sn) and Jude Aidoo (jude.aidoo@un.org)

Singapore
40 Companies from Singapore Join the Global Compact

The Global Compact Local Network in Singapore made a major move forward when more than 40 Singapore-based companies signed on to the initiative during a public ceremony in April 2007. New participants include major Singapore companies such as MediaCorp, the largest media company in Singapore and the region, SingTel, the largest multi-market mobile operator and company based on market capitalization in Asia, as well as many other large companies and several smaller companies. With this event, the Local Network in Singapore has become a vibrant hub for the Global Compact in the region. The signing ceremony took place in the context of the joint UN Environment Programme and Global Compact B4E Global Business Summit for the Environment held on 19-20 April in Singapore.
 
Singapore Information: www.csrsingapore.org

Turkey
Network Holds Annual Meeting, Over 30 New Turkish Organizations Join the GC

The Global Compact Turkey Network held its annual meeting in Istanbul on 23 October 2007, hosted by Koç Group. At the meeting several tools and guidelines were dispatched, including localized versions of Raising the Bar, the Employers' Guide on the Global Compact and Turkey's CSR Baseline Report.

Additionally, on 12 November 2007, over 30 organizations signed on to the Global Compact during a “Global Compact Leaders Gala Dinner” hosted by Kalder (Quality Association of Turkey).

Turkey Contact: Hansin Dogan (hansin.dogan@undp.org)

Ukraine
First Responsible Business Directory Launched in Kyiv

In September 2007, the first edition of “Responsible Business Directory Ukraine” was launched in Kyiv within the framework of the Global Compact Initiative in Ukraine, and in partnership with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, European Business Association, American Chamber of Commerce and with the support of Ukraine Citizen Action Network (UCAN). The event attracted more than 120 participants, including representatives of the country's leading companies featured in the Directory, foreign diplomatic corps and media. This is the first bilingual publication in Ukraine featuring socially responsible companies that work in the local market and implement CSR practices in the country. The Responsible Business Directory aims to promote a new image of national businesses that meet social, environmental and governance objectives. The Directory will also contribute to the establishment of a new business community in Ukraine that justifies its existence, not only in terms of profit, but also by service to the society at large.

Ukraine Contact: Elena Panova (elena.panova@undp.org)

United Kingdom
Event Focused on Carbon Reduction Strategies and Doing Business in Difficult Places

The UK Network, CIFAL Findhorn and the United Nations Institute of Training and Research hosted a regional outreach event in Edinburgh on 24 - 25 September 2007. The first day session focused on how to establish a carbon baseline and what can be done by businesses to make direct emissions carbon neutral, including energy efficiency, low carbon technologies and management of supply chain. On 25 September, Transparency International (UK), the International Business Leaders Forum, Business in the Community and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office jointly led a session focused on the challenge of maintaining responsible values while operating in diverse cultural and regulatory frameworks around the world. It explored the principles and standards that companies can apply and how these play out in practice.

UK Contact: secretariat@ungc-uk.net

United States
US Network Discusses "Responsible Procurement"

On 22 October 2007, the US Network convened in San Francisco for its second conference of the year. Focusing of the topic of "Responsible Procurement", more than 50 participants representing business, civil society, academia and the public sector shared best and emerging practices related to the overall theme, as well as specialized aspects of sustainable procurement, including supply chain, ethical sourcing, food services, building and construction, information technology, and travel. Aron Cramer, Chief Executive of Business for Social Responsibility, delivered the keynote address. He commented that while much progress has been made in recent years with respect to companies developing various codes of conduct, a more comprehensive approach is needed – one that goes "beyond monitoring" and includes the dimensions of worker empowerment, public policy, supplier ownership and buyer-internal alignment.

US Contact: Gavin Power (powerg@un.org)

Viet Nam
Global Compact Launched in Viet Nam

The United Nations, in partnership with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), launched the UN Global Compact Network on 27 September 2007 in Ho Chi Minh City. “With Viet Nam’s rapid economic growth and increasingly sophisticated business environment, it is indeed a fitting moment to launch the Global Compact and to raise awareness of the role of corporate social responsibility in the development process,” said UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra at the launch. “By mainstreaming the Global Compact principles … into business practices we create the conditions for a dynamic and equitable economy.” The Global Compact Network was launched with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) and Unilever Viet Nam.

Viet Nam Contact: Helena Keki (helena.kekki@undp.org)