Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is rapidly gaining ground as a better way of doing business. How can CSR contribute to sustainable and proper growth? What are the implications of introduction of social standards in local and global supply chains? How can SMEs in developing Asia and the Pacific stay competitive and balance the often conflicting demands of lower prices and increased social responsibility? What can be expected of larger companies in terms of developing and supporting suppliers, labour and communities in the economies where they operate?

To prepare for the discussions on CSR at the APBF, UNESCAP and the World Bank Institute (WBI) in collaboration with the International Trade Center of UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) are facilitating a 2-week E-discussion on CSR in Asia and the Pacific. The objective of the E-discussion is to engage a wide range of stakeholders from various professional and geographical backgrounds and solicit their expertise and opinions on CSR in Asia, in order to identify key opportunities, constraints and priorities for action.

Week 1 of the e-discussion (18-24 April) will focus on the role and issues of CSR in the Asian and Pacific context, and Week 2 (25 April – 1 May) will focus on implementation of CSR in Asia and the Pacific.

The ideas and views presented during the E-discussion will act as input for the different breakout sessions on CSR during the Asia-Pacific Business Forum. They will also be collected in a final summary which will be made available on the UNESCAP website.

To visit the e-dicsussion, please go to:
http://dgroups.org/groups/worldbank/APBF

>>  Summary of e-discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia and the Pacific