Date:02/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/02/stories/2005030202820300.htm

Back First Global Compact meet from March 8

Our Bureau

Kolkata , March 1

TATA Steel, along with CII is holding the first two-day South Asian Regional Conclave of Global Compact in Jamshedpur from March 8. The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, launched the Global Compact in 1999.

Addressing a conference here on Tuesday, Mr A.N. Singh, Deputy Managing Director of Tata Steel, said that the two-day conclave would deliberate on how corporate social esponsibility (CSR) can be used as a sound business strategy.

Mr Georg Kell, Executive Head of United Nations Global Compact, will inaugurate the conclave. Representative from 150 Indian companies are expected to participate in this meet. The event will also see participants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

"We would have selected any city in India, but preferred Jamshedpur over others because it would give us an opportunity to showcase the CSR activities of Tata Steel. We have been working on CSR for decades," Mr Singh said.

Tata Steel is one of the first 12 companies in the world to sign at the Global Compact in 1999. At present, 1,800 companies have voluntarily enrolled in the Global Compact activities.