13/10/2023

The second working meeting of the Georgian Corporate Social Responsibility Forum took place on October 13, organized by the Strategic Research and Development Center (CSRDG). This gathering brought together up to 40 representatives from a diverse array of civil and international organizations, business associations, educational institutions, and the public sector.

The host of the meeting was Procredit Bank, the winner of the main prize of Georgia’s Responsible Business Awards Meliora (2019) and one of the outstanding companies in the field of corporate responsibility. The bank not only upholds responsible business conduct but also actively supports corporate responsibility initiatives across the nation. Consistent with this commitment, Procredit Bank enthusiastically backed the CSR Forum, hosting a workshop on October 13 as part of their involvement.

For almost a year, Forum members have been discussing recommendations for a state policy promoting corporate responsibility. These recommendations are being developed by a working group of Georgian and foreign experts. During the meeting, members of the working group presented their findings.

• Audronė Alijošiutė-Paulauskienė, Lithuanian Responsible Business Association (LAVA)
• Giorgi Papava — lead economist at ISET’s Policy Institute, Member of the working group
• Davit Maisuradze — Associated professor at Ilia State University, Member of the working group

Representatives from Procredit Bank, Khatia Kiria (Head of the HR Department) and Irina Kikvadze (Energy Efficiency Expert), provided a succinct overview of the bank's sustainability policy and achievements.

At the  meeting Frances Fitzgerald, Member of the European Parliament and Vice President of the EPP Group, and former Minister of Enterprise of Ireland, delivered a speech to the members online. Mrs. Fitzgerald, who played a key role in the development and implementation of Ireland's national CSR strategy, shared valuable insights into the European Commission's policies in this area. She underscored the significance of formulating a national policy to promote CSR in Georgia, expressing her wholehearted support for the CSR Forum of Georgia.

During the meeting, Forum members reviewed the initial draft of the national CSR framework and engaged in detailed discussions concerning the recommendations to be presented to the Georgian government. The conversation revolved around the following crucial areas:

• Enhancing transparency regarding sustainability matters and promoting sustainability reporting.
• Establishing robust corporate governance and implementing Sustainability due diligence processes.
• Advocating for a green economy and incentivizing businesses to embrace environmental responsibility.
• Introducing corporate responsibility education in universities.
• Establishing a government agency tasked with coordinating CSR development initiatives nationwide and enhancing the knowledge and skills of civil servants in CSR-related issues.