Source: AP / ls / APA

 

The Ivorian private sector presented Thursday to government representatives a compendium of good practices of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Côte d’Ivoire, during a ceremony in Abidjan.

This project, led by the European Chamber of Commerce of Côte d’Ivoire (Eurocham), brings together several local companies who have committed themselves through this collection entitled “Cap sur la RSE”, which invites all legal persons for “a more responsible economy. “.

Mr. Marc Alberola, president of Eurocham, urged the Ivorian state to support companies in this momentum. Three members of the government were present: the Minister of Trade and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Jean-Luc Assi.

The Minister Delegate to the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of African Integration, Alcide Djédjé, also took part in the launch of the CSR compendium, which is gradually taking its place in business strategy.

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire Jobst Von Kirchmann said he was convinced that CSR “will become the norm in the future”; and Côte d’Ivoire, which exports 40% of its products to the EU, must motivate companies towards CSR.

Mr. Alcide Djédjé observed that in reality this is a variation of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), revealing that this standard in the future will be required to operate in the European market, which is why companies should focus on in “appropriate”.

The Ivorian Minister of Trade and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba, recalled that this concept is not new, however it opens the way to competitiveness through traceability and “companies have no other choice but to engage in that “.

“It becomes an obligation”, he launched, before adding that “these are important subjects that we integrated in the Design of the strategy of sustainable and inclusive industrial development”.

CSR may at first glance seem to generate a cost, but this is “a factor of value creation and the government will support this”, reassured the Minister of Commerce and Industry in front of business leaders.

In addition to environmental and sustainability issues, issues related to health and well-being are taken into account by CSR. However, it results from an awareness of the private sector: more than 55 companies and associations took part in this collection.

Through this collection of nearly 160 pages, Eurocham wants to highlight CSR actions in companies in Côte d’Ivoire and encourage those who have not yet adopted this approach to get involved.