CSR Asia Summit 2011 Themed "Asian Growth: Global Responsibility" To Be Launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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Jul 22, 2011, 12:00 ET

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- The ninth CSR Asia Summit, the annual flagship event of CSR Asia, will be launched at the Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 27^th September 2011. Themed "Asian Growth: Global Responsibility", the two-day Summit will take place from 27^th to 28^th September 2011. The CSR Asia Summit aims to be the most innovative and thought-provoking on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Asia.

More than 400 delegates from multi-disciplinary backgrounds around the world are expected to attend the Summit to discuss key CSR issues and strategies, as well as provide new insights for businesses, governments, CSR practitioners and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Delegates of CSR Asia Summit 2011 will understand the latest CSR issues, address challenges and opportunities, learn from leading sustainability practitioners, and acquire crucial tools and resources to build sustainable business strategies in Asia.

The CSR Asia Summit 2011 is designed to address findings from "CSR in 10", a research project by CSR Asia that provides insights into emerging trends and issues for CSR over the next decade. The research revealed that according to 80 interviewees, who are CSR experts in the Asia-Pacific region, the top CSR concern from companies in Asia is Climate Change and Water Issues, while others are Corporate Governance, Disclosure and Reporting, as well as Supply Chains.

Based on these findings, renowned speakers from local and international corporations as well as NGOs will focus on four themes at the CSR Asia Summit this year. They are:

1. Asian CSR Strategies
2. Environmental Issues
3. Community Investment
4. Sustainable Supply Chains and Food Security

An annual highlight of the CSR Asia Summit is the announcement of the results from the 3^rd "Asian Sustainability Rating™" (ASR™). Since its launch in 2009, the ASR™ has built a strong track record in becoming an ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) benchmarking tool for use by Asian companies, investors and other stakeholders. It is an essential reference that has helped to add value and enable companies to integrate a sustainability dimension to their business models through the years.

Richard Welford, Co-Founder and Chairman of CSR Asia said, "With the robust economic growth of Asian countries such as China and India, the spotlight is cast on the region to start taking the lead on CSR efforts. We believe the CSR Asia Summit will provide insights as to where the CSR opportunities lie in Asia, especially for growth markets, to enable companies to model their businesses to take on CSR responsibility on a global level. The CSR Asia Summit is also tailored to empower companies to meet industry experts to exchange CSR ideas, innovative solutions and experiences. It is CSR Asia's goal to ensure each CSR Asia Summit is an effective platform that thought leaders can benefit from to develop long-term CSR solutions or initiatives, which would help them meet the growing expectations of their stakeholders."

In Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia will launch an Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Index in late 2012. While in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited will draft an ESG Reporting Guide which outline recommended best practices for listed companies in Hong Kong. Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) also launched its Sustainability Reporting Guide on 27^th June (1). All initiatives demonstrate how governments and corporations in Asia are stepping up to take on greater responsibility to build a more sustainable world. Both have roles to play in their contributions as they build regulatory and business policies around CSR. To enable governments and corporations to make more informed decisions on sustainability, the CSR Asia Summit 2011 will cover topical issues across four different themes. Some of the topics at the Summit are "Reporting and issues management", "Adapting to climate change – addressing the real challenges", "Should companies invest in schools?" and "Food Safety and Stakeholder Trust".

More than 30 speakers from a wide range of industries are already confirmed for the CSR Asia Summit 2011. Darrel Webber, Secretary General, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, and Paul Hoff, Director of Business Development, Asia, FTSE Group will be the keynote speakers at the Summit. Other opinion leaders from local and global corporations as well as NGOs have also confirmed their speaking participation at the Summit. (Please refer to Appendix for full list of Summit speakers).

Other than networking opportunities and speaking sessions, delegates of the CSR Asia Summit 2011 will get to view exhibits of CSR projects and initiatives. Delegates also have access to the Summit's unique "CSR Bazaar" session on the second day, where a selection of eight CSR presentations and case studies will be presented concurrently in different plenary rooms. On the final day, delegates will be brought together in roundtables at "The World Café", which is yet another special feature of CSR Asia Summit and a highly commended session since its inception in 2009. A table host will facilitate group discussion on the key outcomes of the Summit so delegates can enjoy a valuable session where they are able to consolidate and discuss their learning from the Summit.

For more details about CSR Asia and the Summit, please visit www.csrasia.com/summit2011.

Note:
1. The Straits Times, "SGX launches sustainability reporting guide", Jun 27, 2011 - http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Money/Story/STIStory_684596.html

About CSR Asia

CSR Asia is the leading provider of information, training, research and advisory services on sustainable business practices in Asia. Operating as a dynamic social enterprise committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR), CSR Asia occupies the unique middle ground between civil society organisations and fully commercial consultancies. This enables us to provide independent and cutting edge services and expert insight into the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues facing companies in Asia. Through our offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Edinburgh, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo, CSR Asia builds capacity and promotes awareness of CSR in order to advance sustainable development across the region. www.csr-asia.com

APPENDIX

List of speakers and participating companies at CSR Asia Summit 2011

Keynote speakers:

Darrel Webber, Secretary General, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
Paul Hoff, Director of Business Development, Asia, FTSE Group

Confirmed speakers:

Anand Nandakumar, Associate Partner, Monitor Group
Andy Schroeter, Director, Sunlabob Renewable Energy, Ltd
Callum Douglas, Corporate Responsibility Manager China, Hong Kong Corporate Responsibility Coordinator, Asia Pacific, PwC
Deanne Ong, Business Development Director, ORIGIN Exterminators Pte Ltd
Dorje Mundle, Global Head, Corporate Citizenship, Novartis International AG
Evan Lewis, Vice President Communications, Accor Asia Pacific
Jean-Michel Dumont, Chairman, Ruder Finn Asia
Juan Chen, APJ Regional Manager, Global Social Innovation, Hewlett-Packard
Lian Tiong Gan, Head, Sustainability Department, PT Musim Mas
Lynette Ryan, CSR Director, PepsiCo Asia Pacific
Mimi Groenbech, Chief Technical Adviser - Local Economic Development, International Labour Organization
Naoki Adachi, Executive Director, Japan Business Initiative for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (JBIB)
Ning Tang, CEO, Credit Ease
Patricia Isabel Gallardo, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd.
Puvan J Selvanathan, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Sime Darby Berhad
Simon Lord, Group Director of Sustainability, New Britain Palm Oil Ltd
Yann Brault, Sustainable Development Department Director from Danone Aqua/Danone Fund for Ecosystem Asia Pacific Coordinator, Danone