RIYADH: The first Global Corporate Social Responsibility Forum launched in Riyadh on Monday, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and boasting the theme “From Commitment to Impact.”
Minister Ahmad Al-Rajhi said the forum aimed to be a global platform for dialogue on social responsibility, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering private sector involvement in sustainable development to establish a global model for public-private partnerships.
Al-Rajhi spoke of the evolution of social responsibility, emphasizing innovative practices, sustainable digitization, technology, and circular economy integration.
He also looked at the development of individuals and communities in a balanced manner with their environment, and how the private sector has become important in making the world a better place today.
Al-Rajhi emphasized that the Kingdom’s achievements in social responsibility were “an inspiring story of transformation and empowerment,” as the Kingdom paid attention to empowering social responsibility and setting it as a strategic goal in Saudi Vision 2030, which aimed to “enhance companies’ fulfillment of social responsibility.”
Saudi Arabia has implemented tools for corporate social responsibility, including a Social Responsibility Committee, a national platform for transparency, Social Responsibility Day on March 23, and a national social responsibility index.
Al-Rajhi said that these efforts had led to a notable rise in corporate contributions to social spending, which grew from 1.19 percent in 2019 to 4.15 percent by the end of 2023, with active programs rising from 30 percent to 65 percent among major companies.
The Kingdom’s global social responsibility ranking improved from 41st in 2021 to 16th in the 2024 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, and aims at being among the top countries by 2030.
The forum brings together leaders from various sectors to discuss growth opportunities, promote innovation, foster partnerships, and advance international collaboration in social responsibility.
