17.10.2008

Lugansk

The Fifith Regional Global Compact Launch Took Place in Lugansk

The fifth regional Global Compact launch took place in Lugansk, on October 17, Friday, in the conference hall of Lugansk Regional State Administration. The organizers of the launch were UN Office in Ukraine with the support of Lugansk Regional State Administration and the company “Industrial Union of Donbass” The main goal of the launch was to present Global Compact as the largest CSR initiative in the world to companies in Lugansk region and to discuss successful examples of the companies that follow CSR principles in their business practice and development of Global Compact initiative in Ukraine.

More than 40 representatives of the leading companies in Lugansk region and mass media participated in the event. Mr. Francis O’Donnell, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine and regional and city heads - Mr. Oleksandr Antipov, Head of Lugansk Regional State Administration and Mr. Sergey Kravchenko, the mayor of Lugansk, welcomed participants of the event.

“Today it is even of more importance than in the past for the companies to realize why following GC principles makes sense for business”,-noted Mr. Francis О’Donnell, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine. ” Socially responsible business responds to society expectations and builds trust, necessary for regular business activity», he added.

Mr. Oleksandr Antipov, Head of Lugansk Regional Administration, in his address mentioned that “nowadays, when business has bigger impact on all sides of public life, the role of companies in tackling social issues is becoming more and more important».

After the welcoming remarks Mr. Francis O’Donnell, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, handed over certificates to new GC members in Lugansk region: the company “Industrial Union of Donbass”, Lugansk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the company “Mriya Invest” and the company “Vzlit”.

Following the hand-over ceremony, Ms. Yuliya Shcherbinina, UN Public Private Partnerships Officer briefly outlined the activities of the GC Network in Ukraine. Afterwards, Mr. Vasiliy Arbuzov, Head of the Corporate Communication Department, company “Industrial Union of Donbass” shared with the attendees of the event experience of the company “Industrial Union of Donbass” in the sphere of social partnerships. Mr. Gennadiy Boldyr, President of Lugansk Chamber of Commere and Industry and Mr. Sergey Porkuyan, General Director of the company “Mriya Invest” gave practical examples of corporate social responsibility of Lugansk companies.

At the closure of the event, the Head of Lugansk Regional State Admiinistration, having emphasized the importance of social partnerships, concluded: “Today’s event is the proof of the readiness of Ukrainian business to take an active part in tackling social issues”. Mr. Francis O’Donnell, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, expressed hope that “Global Compact initiative presented today will contribute to the transformation of the role of business on the national level in general and in Lugansk region specifically”. After the official part of the launch participants attended cocktail, kindly supported by the company “Industrial Union of Donbass”