Key issues to be in focus at Qatar CSR Summit

The Qatar CSR Summit will be held at the Students Affairs Building in Qatar University (QU) from May 16-18, under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani.The details of the summit were revealed by QU at a press conference Sunday.Dr Rana Sobh, dean of the College of Business and Economics and chairperson of the steering committee of the summit stressed that the event acts as an accelerator for the university’s goals in pushing forward a sustainable business model in Qatar."The conference’s agenda, with the topics it covers and the speakers who will be contributing, raises awareness about corporate social responsibility among all stakeholders, including academics and scholars, students, business owners and the community in general,” she said at the press conference.Dr Sobh explained that the main themes of the conference include business education and societal impact, ESG, sustainability, circular economy, CSR from an Islamic perspective, SDG, and many other important topics. These will be addressed through a series of presentations, papers and panel discussions.In addition to the academic exchange it will allow, the conference will also provide a platform for pioneering national companies leading CSR efforts in the country to introduce their activities in this field and to showcase the best practices that have enabled such companies to integrate CSR into their core business.The event is supported by various public and private entities, including the Ministry of Social Development and Family, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, QNB, Ooredoo, Qatar Chamber, Dallah Holding, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Al Faisal Holding and Aamal, Qatar Tourism, Qatar Cool, QIIB, McDonald’s, FMM, Carrefour, Sasol, Seashore Group, Rayyan, Talabat and UDC.Abdullah Mohamed Arbabi, senior manager – CSR at QNB, said: "We are pleased to be the Official Sponsor of Qatar CSR National Programme’s latest initiative, as it strongly reflects our vision to provide long-term value creation and emphasises our continuous efforts to support various CSR initiatives."Moza Khalid al-Mohannadi, director of CSR, Sponsorship and Media at Ooredoo, noted that the event brings together key players from the private and public sectors to discuss and address the key challenges of integrating CSR into core business strategies.Aysha al-Shriem, chief admin and support services officer, Sustainable Lead at Qatar Cool, said: "We are proud to support Qatar University in holding this event, and we always emphasise that the company's quest to become a Qatari institution with sustainable resources and responsibility towards its society is one of our highest priorities." Saqer Saeed al-Mohannadi, vice-chairman of Seashore Group, said the sponsorship comes as part of the group’s continuous efforts in supporting many societal and environmental initiatives in Qatar.Samy Decour, business development manager, Facilities Management and Maintenance Company (FMM), added: "FMM's CSR strategy is to contribute holistically, through many localised initiatives, to the Qatari society while enhancing the welfare of our employees and the quality of our delivery." In addition to leading local organisations, Qatar CSR Summit has also received significant support from some of the biggest multinational companies, including McDonald’s.Mithqual Abu Nasser, general manager of McDonald’s Qatar, said the company launched 'Rahlatuna,' an umbrella platform for CSR efforts, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030's Human Development pillar.According to the organisers, IFP Qatar and Mubadara for Social Impact, Qatar CSR Summit represents the latest addition to the Qatar CSR National Programme that QU has been hosting for the past 10 years, in an attempt to further develop the programme’s activities and its impact, with the intention of promoting the concept of conducting business in a socially responsible manner. It also provides an effective platform for businesspersons, thought leaders and academia to convene and discuss together the ways of encouraging setting up and developing socially responsible businesses that apply the principles of CSR and ESG in their daily operations.With the addition of the summit to the activities of the programme, the 10th edition of the Qatar CSR National Programme will now include in addition to the conference, an exhibition on the Qatar CSR National Report prepared under the guidance and supervision of the College of Business and Economics at QU.Jack Saba, general manager of Mubadara for Social Impact, said: "The report highlights the achievements of various institutions in the field of social responsibility and supports their position locally and abroad.” Haidar Mshaimesh, general manager of IFP Qatar, said the Qatar CSR Awards gala dinner will be held at Sheraton Doha on May 18.