The Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce announced today, Sunday, Iraq's readiness to host one of the upcoming sessions of the Social Responsibility and Business Sustainability Forum, in coordination with the Arab Chambers Federation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Federation for Social Responsibility. The Arab Chambers Federation confirmed its readiness to support efforts for construction and development and to bring about significant change in Iraq.
The President of the Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Amer Al-Fahdawi, stated during the Iraqi Social Responsibility and Business Sustainability Forum, in a statement covered by the News Video Agency, that the forum's convening in Baghdad comes as an extension of the initiative launched by the Arab Chambers Federation in 2023, which saw the establishment of four sessions over the past years, aimed at exchanging experiences and enhancing dialogue between institutions and transforming the principles of social responsibility into practices that contribute to development and improving citizens' lives.
He added that the federation is honored to propose the initiative to host one of the upcoming sessions of the forum in Iraq, noting that this step represents an opportunity to expand Arab and international partnerships, showcase successful initiatives, and connect companies with development projects that have a tangible impact on citizens' lives.
Al-Fahdawi emphasized that social responsibility is an essential part of the private sector's role in development and is not limited to charitable initiatives, but includes respecting workers' rights, providing a safe working environment, adopting transparency and integrity, protecting consumers, and rationalizing resource use, as well as supporting education and training, empowering youth and women, encouraging entrepreneurship, and protecting the environment.
He stressed the importance of transforming social responsibility into a sustainable institutional approach linked to corporate strategies and community needs, with clear resource allocation and measuring results using transparent indicators, calling for the enhancement of partnerships between government institutions, chambers of commerce, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
He pointed out the necessity of directing initiatives towards development priorities, including training and qualifying youth for work, economically empowering women, establishing integrity and governance within companies, enhancing transparency, preventing conflicts of interest, and supporting fair competition, in addition to following up on the forum's outputs and turning its recommendations into viable programs and initiatives.
The Iraqi Federation of Chambers of Commerce confirmed its readiness to work with its partners and the chambers of commerce in the provinces to promote the culture of social responsibility, exchange experiences, and support companies in developing initiatives that respond to the actual needs of society.
On his part, the Secretary-General of the Arab Chambers Federation, Khaled Hanafi, noted that the concept of social responsibility has undergone significant changes worldwide, indicating that Iraq has recognized and responded to this transformation, as reflected in the holding of the forum in Baghdad with the participation of organizations and delegations.
He explained that the modern concept of social responsibility is no longer limited to donations and assistance offered by companies to the needy, but has become a developmental concept focused on building, sustainability, and planning for the future.
Hanafi confirmed the Arab Chambers Federation's readiness to support paths of construction and development and to bring about significant change, indicating that the federation represents the private sector in 22 Arab countries and has a wide network of Arab and foreign joint chambers in 17 countries around the world, including countries in the Americas, Europe, China, and India, a network he described as the result of an investment that has extended over 75 years.