Inaugural Arab Benevolence Forum promotes intensified regional corporate social responsibility
Forum highlights importance of CSR in UAE, regional socioeconomic development
Injazat Data Systems, the region’s leading Information Technology and Business Process Managed Services Company, has extended its full support to the inaugural Arab Benevolence Forum being held at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi, which started on May 26, 2008, and ends today (Tuesday, May 27, 2008).
Injazat Data Systems' Silver sponsorship of the event is part of the company's commitment to upholding and promoting corporate social responsibility (CSR), particularly in view of a relatively slow CSR adoption rate among UAE firms. Organized by “The Arab Benevolence for Health Development”, one of the initiatives of the non-profit group, Zayed Giving, the Arab Benevolence Forum is a first-of-its-kind initiative that recognises Arab benevolence and encourages a culture of giving and social responsibility among individuals and corporations.
Speakers at the Forum included heads of states, presidents of universities, managers of non-profit, volunteering and charitable institutions; executives of private and semi-private companies, as well as individual and institutional activists and donors.
"Social responsibility does not only mean participation in charitable work. It is a total commitment to enhance the conditions of the whole society. Injazat Data Systems has been a leading advocate of CSR activities within the UAE, thus we consider our participation in the Arab Benevolence Forum another great opportunity to further enhance our CSR program," said Ibrahim Mohamed Lari, CEO, Injazat Data Systems.
A survey conducted by MVM Events revealed that only 18 per cent of companies in Dubai increased their awareness of CSR issues concerning corporate events in the past 12 months; a statistic thought to be equally representative of other emirates in the UAE. Comparatively, the result lags behind London, which recorded a 34 per cent increase, and Australia, which had a 58 per cent increase, underlining the need to intensifies CSR awareness campaigns across all sectors of the business community.
The Forum served as a venue to study the present and future trends of Arab benevolence, volunteerism, and humanitarian and non-profit work, while also aiming to develop a common vision for all CSR-oriented organisations. High-profile speakers enlightened participants on the fundamental concepts of CSR activities.
Comprehensive presentations of creative programs that complement and enhance existing CSR initiatives have also been prepared. In addition, the event facilitates networking and exchange of best practices, while helping galvanise the strategic partnership between the government and private sectors to further consolidate the concept of Arab benevolence.
Established in the first quarter of 2005, Injazat Data Systems is an Abu Dhabi-based joint venture between Mubadala Development Company, a wholly owned investment vehicle of the government of the emirate of Abu Dhabi; and Electronic Data Systems (EDS), a global IT and business process services company.
