Jeddah chamber to launch social responsibility prize

Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed opened the 2nd Saudi Social Responsibility Forum for Companies at Park Hyatt Hotel in Jeddah yesterday. Prince Mishaal praised JCCI’s efforts in promoting social responsibility initiatives. Several prominent businessmen, officials and economists are taking part in the two-day event, organized by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).
Speaking on the occasion, Ahmad Al-Hamdan, chairman of the Jeddah Social Responsibility Center, unveiled plans to launch the JCCI Prize for Social Responsibility awarded to companies making outstanding contributions in the field of social responsibility programs and experiments throughout the Kingdom. He said details about the prize would be announced soon.
“Our objective is not to add another prize but to encourage companies exerting great efforts in fulfilling a great national mission of undertaking social responsibility programs,” he said, adding JCCI is currently working on the plan.
Al-Hamdan said the objective of the forum is to deepen the concept of social responsibility as well as to unify the efforts of the public and private sectors to confront challenges while activating social responsibility programs. “Through the forum, the center will highlight the growing significance of social responsibility programs. For this purpose, we want to unite the efforts of both the public and private sectors in shouldering such programs that would contribute to the Kingdom’s social progress and economic development,” he said.
According to Al-Hamdan, the economic aspect of the center’s programs and projects include supporting productive families in marketing their products and exploring sources of financing for their commercial activities. “In this respect, the center strives to inculcate a positive attitude through 30 trade and conduct training programs to develop the job culture. The center is also promoting the spirit of voluntary work and encouraging Saudi youths to engage in voluntary work that is useful to society,” he said, drawing attention to the pioneering roles of chambers in launching several social responsibility initiatives. He noted the small projects started by young jobless Saudis with the financing of private companies, banks and charity societies.
Addressing the forum, Faisal Abu Zaki, CEO of Economic and Business Group, said more companies are coming forward to take up social responsibility programs after the first forum.
In his keynote speech, Ali M. Sheneamer, deputy governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), said nearly 62 percent of those who responded to a recent SAGIA survey stressed that companies undertaking social responsibility programs is crucial in building confidence between companies and consumers. A majority of those who took part in the survey were of the view that such programs are vital as far as investors are concerned, he added.
As part of the forum, a session on how to build social responsibility strategies was held. Prominent businessman and media figure Hussein Shubokshi presided over the session in which several key figures spoke.
At the end of the opening session, companies and organizations that sponsored the forum were honored. Prince Mishaal presented shields to them. The sponsors included Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG). On behalf of the group, Muhammad Al-Shammari of Asharq Al-Awsat received the shield from Prince Mishaal.


Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the forum SAGIA held a press conference to announce the formation of the consultative council for the Saudi Responsible Competitiveness Index. The council included agencies concerned with supporting social responsibility programs such as King Khaled Charity Foundation, PIA, Siemens, and NCB Chair for Social Responsibility at King Saud University.