UN Global Compact and Pearl Initiative Convene Forum to Advance Corporate Accountability in Gulf Region

(Dubai, 16 April 2015) — Over 600 representatives of business, UN organizations, civil society and other stakeholders attended Corporate Accountability Matters: Business Integrity and Value Creation Beyond 2015. The Forum was jointly convened by the Pearl Initiative and the UN Global Compact at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The Forum provided a vehicle for business and other stakeholders to share lessons learned and explore effective ways to enhance their capacity to engage in activities and partnerships that advance sustainable development priorities across the Gulf Region.

In their opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (via video) and H.E. Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Board Representative Higher Committee & Director General Bureau of Dubai Expo2020, both emphasized the importance of responsible business, transparency and trust in building strong and healthy markets. 

Echoing the senitments of Mr. Ban and Ms. Al Hashimy, Badr Jafar, Founder of the Pearl Initiative and Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact welcomed participants to the inaugural Forum, which included interactive panels featuring top regional business leaders sharing experiences and good practice on key themes, including sustainable leadership and competitiveness, diversity in leadership teams, and integrity and transparency.

The Forum culminated in a gala dinner, with speeches delivered by H.E Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development; and Lord Michael Hastings, Global Head of Corporate Citizenship, KPMG. During the dinner, Executive Director Georg Kell was awarded a lifetime achievement award for his role in promoting corporate sustainability since the inception of the UN Global Compact.

Prior to the Forum, the UN Global Compact Roundtable Discussion on Sustainable Business in the MENA Region was held, with support from the Pearl Initiative, to introduce the UN Global Compact to local participants, mobilize business leaders in the region in support of the UN Global Compact, and to facilitate discussions between companies on their approaches to integrating sustainability into daily operations.

All companies and other organizations present at the event were encouraged to advance their corporate sustainability agenda by joining the Global Compact and internalizing its Ten Principles into daily operations and strategies.

• See agenda for Corporate Accountability Matters: Business Integrity and Value Creation Beyond 2015
• Se agenda for UN Global Compact Roundtable Discussion on Sustainable Business in the MENA Region
• See outcome document
• Watch video of the Forum

About the Pearl Initiative
The Pearl Initiative, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, is an Arabian Gulf-based, private sector-led, not-for-profit organization set up to foster a corporate culture of transparency, accountability, good governance and best business practices in the Arab world. It is a growing regional network of business leaders committed to driving joint action, exhibiting positive leadership and sharing knowledge and experience. The Pearl Initiative drives tangible initiatives in areas such as anti-corruption, good governance, ethics and integrity, integrated reporting and corporate disclosure across the Arab World. 

For more information, please visit www.pearlinitiative.org or follow on twitter @pearlinitiative.

Contacts

Walid Nagi
Chief, Local Networks
United Nations Global Compact
nagi@un.org

Alexandra Tarazi
Relationship Manager- MENA and Europe
United Nations Global Compact
tarazi@unglobalcompact.org