Honorable Minister for Finance and Planning, Government of Maharashtra
Keynote Speaker : Mr. Ernst Ligteringen
Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Amsterdam, will be delivering the keynote address
Keynote Speaker : Ms Nancy Zucker Boswell
Managing Director Transparency International – USA
Keynote Speaker :Mr. Philip T.N. Koh
Member – Private Sector Advisory Group IFC-World Bank, Global Corporate Governance Forum, Washington DC
Introduction : Companies who conduct their business in an ethical, transparent & socially responsible manner do better than their peers because they are rewarded by almost all stakeholders viz ;
Customers reward them with loyalty through repeated buying of their product & services
They can raise capital at a lower cost.
Employees give their best productivity for such companies.
Investors are willing to pay premium for the companies which are governed with higher accountability & transparency.
Suppliers feel a sense of pride to be associated with such companies.
Banks & Financial Institutions are willing to offer Prime Lending rate to such companies.
Thus, it makes a strong business case for companies to become Good Corporate Citizen and ensure of it’s people in particular and Society at large. This is no longer philanthropy but a business imperative. Conducting the business in a manner that minimizes environmental footprints (degradation) and ensures long term sustainable development of communities & Society is finding prominent place amongst board discussions Today’s lobbyists, activist groups, shareholders, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders are too sophisticated to let businesses get away with deliberate lack of clarity around these key issues. The impact of the negative publicity that can arise when stories of wrong-doing hit the media, has prompted corporates to change their behavior. Many companies have good initiatives that they do not communicate fully to the outside world. Companies must consider what is meant by corporate citizenship and seek to ensure that the widest possible audience gets to hear of their works. It is important that companies appreciate that corporate citizenship is about more than a few ‘green’, sustainable initiatives ? external parties will likely want to scrutinize them over an ever growing range of issues. Asian Centre believes that there is strong correlation between Corporate Governance & Public Governance. These are like two faces of the same coin and are so inextricably intertwined, that it is difficult to improve one without the other. Thus, Corporate Leaders, Political Leaders & Government Officers will discuss the Governance issues jointly. World Bank – International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Global Corporate Governance Forum believe that Better Companies will lead to Better Societies. Sustainable cities is yet another concept gaining momentum because more than half of the world’s population is living in urban areas as per UN State of World Population 2007. Thus, cities have to play crucial role towards sustainable development of society. Other factors such as climate change, food and oil shortages and an economic-slump are proving to be a worrying combination of events affecting urban areas, hence GRI believes that cities are going to have to become increasingly innovative to deal with these problems. All these concepts are converging internationally, towards long term ‘SUSTAINABILITY’ of humankind in a Green & Clean Environment through Good Governance. Multi lateral & Multi-stakeholder Institutions like Global Compact & GRI are promoting these concepts world wide.This is what ESG is all about. Thus, in order to discuss and debate these issues with Indian, Asian and International perspectives, Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability (ACCGS) & Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) are jointly organizing 9th International Conference on ‘Governance, Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship – A Business Case’ The conference will focus on synthesizing Local, Regional & International best practices on ESG issues and come up with a declaration proposed to be called ‘Mumbai Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship Protocol’. ACCGS & IMC will closely work with Corporate Boards, State Government & Civil Society to encourage collaborative efforts towards co-creation of a common agenda and pursue this ‘Sustainability Protocol’ relentlessly.
Other Speakers:-
Mr. M.N.Chaini
President, IMC
Mr. M.K.ChouhanVice Chairman – Global Advisory Board, ACCGS
Mr. Gul Kriplani CEO, Pijikay Exports & Vice President, IMC
Ms. Chanda KochharDy Managing Director, ICICI Bank
Mr. Nasser Munjee
Director, HDFC Limited
Mr. Shailesh Haribhakti Executive Chairman, BDO Haribhakti Consulting (P) Ltd
Mr. Humayun Dhanrajgir Member-Global Advisory Board, ACCGS
Mr. M.N.Chaini – President, Indian Merchants Chamber, Welcome speech
Mr. M.K.Chouhan – Vice Chairman, Global Advisory Board, ACCGS, Conference Overview
Mr. Ernst Ligteringen – Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)Amsterdam, Key note address
Theme: Board leadership & Role in ESG Strategy ,
Q&A 15 minute
Vote of thanks – Mr. Gul Kriplani, CEO, Pijikay Exports & Vice President, IMC Tea Break (10.45 – 11.15 am)
Business Session – 1 (11.15 – 12.15 pm)
Topic: Sustainability a common agenda for Companies & Cities
Speaker: Mr. Nasser Munjee – Director, HDFC Limited
Topic: Tackling Global warming – opportunity for Indian Companies for a Sustainable future
Speaker: Mr. Shailesh Haribhakti – Executive Chairman, BDO Haribhakti Consulting (P) Ltd
Session Chair:Mr.S.Mohan – Director- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd
Business Session – 2 (12.15 – 1.15 pm)
Topic: Carbon Credits – Concept and International practice
Speaker: Mr. Gaurav Mehndiratta – Partner KPMG, New Delhi
Topic: Good Governance is Good Business
Speaker: Mr. M.K.Chouhan – Vice Chairman, Global Advisory Board, ACCGS
Session Chair:: Dr. A.K. Khandelwal, Executive Chairman, Baroda Pioneer Asset Management . Lunch Break (1.15 – 2.15 pm)
Business Session – 3 (2.15 – 3.15 pm)
Topic : Auditing – How to use both social and environmental audits to achieving positive long term Sustainability of a company.
Speaker: Mr. Sammy Medora – Chairman, Audit Committee Institute, KPMG Mumbai
Session Chair: : R. Ramakrishnan–ED, Bajaj Electricals Ltd Tea Break (3.15 – 3.30 pm)
Business Session – 4 (3.30 – 4.30 pm)
Topic : Governing, Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship – Malaysian Experience
Speaker : Philip Koh – Member, PSAG, Global Corporate Governance Forum. •
Session Chair : M.K.Chouhan – Vice Chairman – Global Advisory Board, Asian Centre Corporate Citizenship – A Business Case Awards Function & Valedictory session (4.30 – 5.30 pm) ( Release of Mumbai Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship Protocol)
Chief Guest: Mr Jayant Rao Patil- Hon. Minister for Finance & Planning, Govt. of Maharashtra to give Asian Centre Awards – 2008, on Corporate Governance & Sustainability and Release Mumbai Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship Protocol
Guest of honour : Mr. Ernst Ligteringen – Chief Executive, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Amsterdam
Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards-2008 :Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability and IndianMerchants Chamber presented Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards -2008, at a glittering function at Hotel Taj Mahal,Mumbai, Ball room, November 20, 2008 at 4.30 pm. The awards were presented at the 9 th International Conference on Governance,Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship – a Business Case.
wards committee for 2008 is being is chaired by Ms Chanda Kochhar – Joint MD, ICICI Bank, other jury members comprise of severaleminent people from Indian corporate world. The Global Advisory Board of Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainabilityinstituted Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards in 2006.
Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards-2008
Mr Jayant Rao Patil- Hon. Minister for Finance & Planning, Govt. of Maharashtra giving Asian Centre Awards – 2008, on Corporate Governance & Sustainability To Mr.A.M.Naik. Chairman, Larson & Tubro – Transformational Leader Award .
The awards will be given for the following categories:
· Best Governed Company
· Best Audit Committee
· Best Non Executive Director
· Best Woman Director
· Transformational Leader Award
· The Company with Best CSR & Sustainability
Who should attend :
The conference will be focused for senior & top management as well as board members. Directors, CEOs, CFOs and CXOs, in addition the professionals involved in managing Governance and Sustainabiltiy within the company will find the conference extremely useful.
Registration fee :
Rs 2250/- for IMC members and members of supporting Institutions, Academicians (Fulltime Professors).
Rs 2500/- for non members
About the Organizers :
Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) is a premier Chamber of Trade Commerce & Industry in India. Established on September 7, 1907, IMC has completed its Centenary last year and has the rare distinction of being the only chamber having Mahatma Gandhi as its Honorary Member. Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability (ACCGS) is a not for profit institution set up in 2001 with a mission to improve Corporate Governance practices & processes of Asian companies for managing interests of Shareholders and Stakeholders in a balanced manner.
P. N. Mogre Secretary-General, IMC
