Global CSR Forum Initiated Under The Patronage Of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

The inaugural Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Forum commenced under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development organised this event with the theme "From Commitment to Impact". The forum's primary aim is to enhance social responsibility initiatives.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, in his opening address, stated: "On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, it is my honour to welcome you to the first Global CSR Forum. Saudi Arabia's goal for this forum is to serve as a global platform for dialogue on social responsibility, enabling us to meet, exchange expertise, and discuss challenges, solutions, and opportunities to expand private sector involvement in sustainable development. Together, we aim to set a global model for creating new partnerships between the public and private sectors."

Al-Rajhi highlighted that Saudi Arabia's progress in social responsibility is an "inspiring transformation and empowerment story". This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's strategic objective of "promoting corporate social responsibility". Efforts include developing tools and enablers for strategic transformation in corporate social responsibility.

A Cabinet decision led to establishing a Social Responsibility Committee. A national strategy for social responsibility was formulated alongside launching a platform promoting transparency. March 23 has been declared as Social Responsibility Day annually. These initiatives spotlight private sector contributions.

Corporate contributions towards social spending have seen a significant increase. From 1.19% in 2019, they rose to 4.15% by the end of 2023. Major companies with active social responsibility programs also grew from 30% in 2019 to 65% by the end of 2023.

Saudi Arabia improved its position in global rankings too. It achieved the 16th place in the global Social Responsibility Index within the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook for 2024, moving up from the 41st place in 2021. The Kingdom aims to be among the top countries by 2030.

Forum Objectives and Engagement

The forum seeks engagement from decision-makers across sectors including private sector leaders, government officials, development organisations, and experts in sustainability. Discussions focus on challenges and opportunities for growth in social responsibility.

The event encourages innovation while shaping future global standards for social responsibility. It aims to foster excellence and competitiveness while facilitating partnerships among public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Efforts are directed towards expanding international collaboration opportunities within this field. By doing so, it hopes to create a conducive environment for sustainable development globally.

Saudi Arabia continues its journey towards becoming a leader in corporate social responsibility through these initiatives. The forum represents another step forward in achieving this vision by fostering dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders worldwide.

With inputs from SPA