Leaders in business, academics and law take part in Qatar CSR Summit

Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad Tuesday inaugurated the Qatar CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Summit 2023 hosted by Qatar University (QU).
Running until Thursday, the event is being held in the Student Affairs Building at the university.
HE the Minister participated in the opening event along with QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham, Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali bin Jabor al-Thani, QNB Group chief business officer Yousef Mahmoud al-Neama and Mubadara for Social Impact president Dr Saif al-Hajari.
Also present were representatives of ministries and government agencies, managers of sponsoring companies, the administrative and educational staff at QU and a group of businesspersons and academics.
The Qatar CSR Summit serves as a platform for local and international CSR experts and professionals to discuss how organisations can use CSR to integrate economic, social and environmental objectives with their operations. The summit gathers leaders in business, academics and law as well as representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions from various sectors to identify and discuss some of the key challenges and possible solutions that allow integrating CSR into the core business, build relationships with key partners in the private and public sectors, and promote their brands and initiatives.
In her opening address, HE al-Misnad said: “I am pleased to be with a group of leaders of social responsibility development in Qatar, and officials of companies that have taken the initiative for many years to implement the goals related to social responsibility on the ground, to serve as an example for other institutions and companies.”
She stressed that social responsibility "occupies an advanced position within the list of priorities of the wise government, and constitutes an important element in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 in the human, social, economic and environmental dimensions".
“Reaching these goals requires us to commit, co-operate and work together, so that together we can achieve sustainable development and wellbeing for citizens and residents," she said.
In his speech, Dr al-Derham said QU considers social responsibility an essential part of its students' educational journey.
“We strive to enhance their awareness and develop their skills and abilities to become more interested in social and environmental problems and more aware of finding solutions to these problems. We encourage students to participate in CSR-related conferences and events to broaden their horizons and enhance their abilities to communicate effectively with others and work together to achieve common goals," he noted.
Ooredoo Qatar CEO Sheikh Ali said: "Ooredoo strongly believes in the importance of social responsibility and sustainability, and we strive to incorporate these values into all its business. Supporting national events such as the Qatar CSR Summit is part of our strategy to make the world around us a better place, and we are committed to playing our part in building a sustainable future in Qatar and the world."
On his part, al-Neama said: “We are delighted to be the official sponsor of the summit, as it strongly reflects our vision to provide long-term value and to underline our continuous efforts to support various CSR initiatives. This sponsorship reinforces the Group's efforts to maintain its CSR initiatives and projects, which are an important pillar of the Group's long-term strategy to deliver better performance and build a stronger brand.”
During the event, Qatar Charity (QC) CEO Yousef Ahmed al-Kuwari was named CSR Person of the Year 2023, in recognition of his efforts and QC's continuous efforts in community development and relief.
Sheikh Ali was also honoured and recognised in appreciation of Ooredoo’s activities during the holy month of Ramadan, while Seashore Group chairman Saeed Salem al-Mohannadi was honoured for the Group's role in supporting the sustainable development goals in co-operation with the ministry to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030.