After launching a series of events to promote the Corporate Social Responsibility Award (CSR) 2009 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the organising board has started receiving domestic businesses’ registration forms for the award.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Deputy Director of Vietnam Business Office for Sustainable Development under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI ) said: “Despite facing lots of difficulties, more Vietnamese businesses are still interested in CSR Award. This shows their increasing awareness of social responsibilities.”
Marking and surveying enterprises will be conducted in October and November this year. The ceremony to honour the winners will be held in December in Hanoi.
Vietnam Business Forum has an interview with Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh about the event.
Could you talk about the organisation of the award?
The award will be widened to all economic sectors, including garment and textile, footwear, mineral exploitation, seafood and agriculture. After we held a press conference in Hanoi and HCM City, a large number of local businesses have registered for the award.
All enterprises operating in Vietnam can register for the award in either of two categories: environment and labour. Businesses must be aware of the role and benefits of CSR for their sustainable development and the community. They should consider CSR a key part in their business strategy.
Besides the official prizes, businesses will also get certificates of merit from ministries and agencies.
Many companies said that some of their services are directly involved in the two areas of environment and labour. Therefore, it is difficult for them to win the prize?
The oganisers will consider this situation. We will consider enterprises’ contribution or cooperation with other firms on environment protection and their environmental initiatives too. This is a foundation for the organisers and the board of examiners to rank the participants. We can also directly check enterprises to mark and grant the prizes.
CSR 2009 is granted in the context of difficulties caused by the global economic crisis. Furthermore, some people said that currently too many awards are launched. What are the outstanding features of CSR 2009?
The award was launched in the context of economic difficulties and many other prizes are also granted. However, CSR is different from other awards.
Firstly, the implementation of CSR will help improve the image as well as competitiveness of enterprises. Therefore, in the economic crisis situation, businesses should do more to ensure their social responsibilities, helping them operate more effectively.
Secondly, the award is completely made public with transparent criteria and process. Criteria of different mark levels can enable participants to evaluate their social responsibilities in the two areas of labour and environment. Additionally, enterprises do not have to pay any fees to join the competition for the award.
Finally, the building of the award’s criteria receives supports from not only local ministries and concerned agencies but also international organisations.
Could you talk about the participation for the award?
Businesses are more eager for the award this year which are applied for by all economic sectors. I think that the award’s communications activities should be enhanced to help enterprises know about the award.
More Vietnamese companies are aware of the importance of CSR in their activities. However, a number of them have not yet paid due attention to CSR. What can you say to these enterprises?
I just want to say that enterprises must do their social responsibilities not for any awards but their own sustainable development.
Vietnamese
