News

25 June 2014

NEW PRIZE TO REWARD COMPANIES’ CSR ABROAD

Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation Mogens Jensen and IFU will launch a new prize for companies that make a special effort to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries and emerging markets.

Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation Mogens Jensen will launch a new prize for companies that make a special effort to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries and emerging markets. The initiative is introduced in collaboration with IFU.

“Danish companies must take the lead in terms of ensuring decent working and environmental conditions when they set up production and do business abroad. I will therefore, together with IFU, place positive focus on companies’ CSR abroad. We will do so by drawing attention to good examples of Danish companies that have made an extraordinary effort to promote CSR in developing countries and emerging markets”, says Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation Mogens Jensen, and he adds:

“Danish companies are already very good at working in a responsible manner as a natural part of their doing business in Denmark. However, when it comes to handling social and environmental challenges abroad, and particularly in developing countries, there are new challenges and dilemmas that need to be tackled”.

Companies’ CSR in developing countries and in emerging markets includes ensuring responsible working and environmental conditions, contributing to fighting corruption and involving themselves in the local communities where their production takes place.

The prize, CSR Abroad, will be awarded to a company having shown that good business, strategic CSR and compliance with international standards for social, environmental and economic development can go hand in hand.

In practice, the company may have made a special effort to foster respect for workers’ rights and human rights abroad. The company may have created sound jobs with good working conditions and ensured essential progress regarding the UN Global Compact’s ten principles –including the environment and anti-corruption. The company may also have contributed positively to meeting broader goals such as the UN millennium development goals in terms of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and ensuring sustainable development.

Denmark’s national CSR conference and prize award show, CSR Awards, has a history of paying tribute to Danish companies’ CSR in Denmark, whereas there has been less focus on the companies’ CSR abroad. The prize, CSR Abroad, will be awarded with a view to placing sharp focus on companies’ CSR abroad.

A jury comprising experts will be charged with the task of selecting the winner of CSR Abroad. Companies may apply for nomination by completing the application form and forward it to csrabroad@um.dk no later than 14. August 2014.

The prize will be awarded during the CSR Award Show 2014 in Holstebro on 30 October 2014.

For further information, please contact:

Birgitte Bang Nielsen, IFU: bbn@ifu.dk /+45 33 63 75 26
Carl Christian Hasselbalch, Udenrigsministeriet: carhas@um.dk/+4533920096
Line Brøgger Kjærgaard, Udenrigsministeriet: linbro@um.dk/+4533920890