Vietnam Prime Minister H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung invited by AIM President Francis G. Estrada to be the keynote speaker at the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility and the guest-of-honor at Asian CSR Awards. Initiative to bring more Vietnamese students to AIM for training discussed during Manila meeting.
The president of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Francis G. Estrada, was granted a private meeting with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung on August 10 in Manila, during the PM’s recent official state visit to the Philippines. Also present from AIM at the meeting was Mr. Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the AIM Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr., Center for Corporate Responsibility, AIM Trustee and President/CEO of Phinma.
During the meeting, President Estrada provided a brief presentation on AIM and the Institute’s initiatives in Vietnam since the early 1990s. AIM has a decades-long history of presence in Vietnam with almost 200 graduates working in Vietnam today. Mr. del Rosario spoke briefly about corporate social responsibility and how the business sector should take a more active role in the initiatives of nation-building. He then talked about the annual regional Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) that Institute would be conducting at the Sheraton Saigon Tower and Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on September 27 & 28, 2007. He explained how the theme of the conference, CSR – A Driving Force for Growth and Development: How CSR Can Reduce Poverty, Generate Investments and Trade, and Improve Business Performance, was chosen to enlighten the business sector on how to best address the social issues in Vietnam today. An invitation was conveyed to the Prime Minister to be the keynote speaker at the AFCSR, and the guest-of-honor at the gala dinner of the 5th Asian CSR Awards.
H.E. Nguyen Tan Dung said that he hoped that the scope of cooperation between the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training, as well as their universities, and AIM begins very soon. Upon his return to Vietnam he said he would ask the Ministry of Education and Training to contact AIM with the directive to bring more Vietnamese students to AIM for training in a wider range of disciplines. With regard to the conduct of the AFCSR in Ho Chi Minh City, the Prime Minister said he welcomed the Institute’s efforts and he said he would encourage the major corporations in Vietnam to cooperate and he said he would ask the VCCI Chairman to help also.
Recognized as being the largest and most significant conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Asia, the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility 2007 is co organized by the Asian Institute of Management Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. Center for Corporate Responsibility, United Nations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and ActionAid International Vietnam. The organizing committee is composed of representatives from major sponsors, regional NGOs, International organizations and CSR organizations. The event manager is OIC EVENTS.
AFCSR’s primary mission is to highlight innovative programs and best practices in CSR by corporations in Asia and to promote CSR as a key strategy in addressing public needs and problems, to showcase corporate innovation in CSR in Asia and among Asian firms, to promote new thinking and standards on CSR as strategy, and to build a network of CSR practitioners across Asia. The event is extremely well supported and attended not only by senior business executives from Asia, but also by major NGO’s throughout the Asian region. Additionally, a number of Vietnam government officials are expected to attend this year’s conference.
The Asian CSR Awards recognizes and honors companies in Asia for their projects and programs in corporate social responsibility. The Awards will be given in five categories: Environmental Excellence, Support and Improvement of Education, Poverty Alleviation, Best Workplace Practices, and Concern for Health.
AFCSR 2007 is indebted to the ongoing support of numerous distinguished sponsors including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Unilever and Intel as Strategic Corporate Partners; Chemoil Energy Limited as sponsor of the Asian CSR Awards; Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd. (APRIL), HOLCIM Vietnam, Nokia, UBS and Talisman Vietnam Limited as Official Industry Partners; Eurasia Group, Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, Ambuja Cements Limited, Figaro Coffee Company and QB I.A.C Co., Ltd as Cooperating Partners; and Intel as the Strategic Technology Partner. The Official Public Relations Company Partner is Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide with Integrated Public Relations and PR Society Indonesia as Cooperating PR Companies. Official media partners include International Herald Tribune, ANC, Business Monitor International/Asia Monitor, Newsbreak, BusinessWorld, China CSR, CSR Asia, Masso Communications Group, Ethical Corporation Magazine and The Saigon Times Group.
For further information on the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility and Asian CSR Awards, please visit
www.asianforumcsr.com.
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