Special to AG-IP-News Agency

BEIRUT - HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global) - International Ambassador for Social Responsibility, has recently stated that corporate social responsibility (CSR) should not be viewed as a favor or a  charity offered by the private sector to the community, because it is a social obligation. He highlighted Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Foundation’s (TAG-Foundation) efforts offering about 40 sustainable programs dedicated to community service.

This was highlighted in a speech delivered on behalf of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh by Mr. Burhan Al Ashkar, representative of Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh for Culture and Media in Lebanon, during his participation in the conference organized by the Union of Arab Chambers in Beirut, Lebanon, under the theme “Social Responsibility of Private Sector and its Role in Sustainable Development”.

In the speech, Mr. Al Ashkar stated that “The selection of Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh by the Regional Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as one of the most prominent and influential Arab personalities in social responsibility field is attributed to his invaluable contributions in such important domain.” He also referred to Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Award for Social Initiatives which was launched in recognition of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s effective and positive role in key economic fields.

He went on to point out Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s efforts in implementing the Digital Transformation Strategy in Lebanon, where a number of TAG.Global knowledge stations were inaugurated across the Lebanese governorates.

Regarding one of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s recent achievements in digital transformation field in Lebanon, Mr. Al Ashkar referred to the launch of the Smart School Bag under the patronage of Lebanon’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, HE Dr. Abbas Halabi. He also referred to signing an agreement with the Lebanese University to establish the first-of-its-kind Talal Abu-Ghazaleh for Technology (TAGTech) factory at the Lebanese University's headquarters for manufacturing technological devices under the slogan “Made in Lebanon”.

Mr. Al Ashkar further emphasized Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s role, as he served as the Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact with UN former Secretaries-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and Mr. Kofi Annan, in obliging companies to accept their responsibilities in the fields of human rights and employment, environment, anti-corruption, transparency, and governance, in order to achieve (The Good Citizen Company).

During the conference, a number of business sessions were held on the role of Arab Chambers in supporting culture, policies and practices associated with social responsibility, in addition to the positive role of corporate social responsibility in achieving sustainable development; in addition to presenting  successful Arab success stories from the private sector and non-government organizations in the field of social responsibility and their impact on national strategies for sustainable development.