Dubai Chamber roundtable examines private sector role

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently hosted a roundtable that examined the role of Dubai’s private sector in supporting the UAE’s #Year of Giving, which identified ways businesses can align their corporate social responsibility, CSR, and sustainability practices with the national initiative.

The event, organised by the Chamber’s Centre for Responsible Business, was attended by 58 participants from 29 companies, 10 community partners that were mainly from Dubai Chamber’s Sustainability Network and the Engage Dubai volunteering programme, as well as CSR Label recipient companies.

The roundtable aimed to introduce participants to the National Strategy for the Year of Giving which was launched earlier this year by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The event provided an ideal platform for participating companies to collaborate and discuss existing and new initiatives and programmes within the business community that support the National Strategy for the Year of Giving. This strategy comprises over 1,000 initiatives and programmes which cover six main themes, namely corporate social responsibility, volunteerism, the developmental role of humanitarian organisations, legislative systems and government policies, media, and serving the nation.

During the event, several working groups were formed to address issues ranging from food waste to instilling environmental awareness in young children.

Dr. Belaid Rettab, Senior Director, Economic Research and Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber, said the roundtable succeeded in aligning the CSR efforts of participating companies in a way that can increase their contribution to charitable causes and foster a culture of volunteerism within the business community.

He stressed the important role of public-private collaboration in achieving the objectives outlined under the UAE’s Year of Giving initiative, and added that the Chamber's Centre for Responsible Business is playing a key role in facilitating the contribution from the private sector by encouraging businesses to adopt responsible practices and participate in CSR-related initiatives and activities.

Established in 2004, Dubai Chamber’s Centre for Responsible Business aims to instil a culture of responsible business in the UAE. The centre assists members with applying responsible business practices that enhance their performance and competitiveness. It also provides research, training and events related to corporate social responsibility that support Dubai’s transition to a green economy.