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 ;

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.

Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards-2008 :Asian Centre for Corporate Governance &   Sustainability and Indian Merchants 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.

Awards committee for 2008 is being is chaired by Ms Chanda Kochhar – Joint MD, ICICI Bank, other jury members comprise of several eminent people from Indian corporate world. The Global Advisory Board of Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability instituted Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards in 2006.

Corporate Governance & Sustainability Awards-2008

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.

For More details log on to http://www.imcnet.org/ | http://www.asiancentre.org/ Please contact Mrs.Kiran Nanda/Mr.Varun Miglani, Tel No. 2204 6633 Extn. 142/151. Email : kironnanda@gmail.com/varun@imcnet.org

P. N. Mogre
Secretary-General, IMC