From November 14th to 20th a Dutch trade mission centered on agri-food and Corporate Social Responsibility will visit Costa Rica.
According to a study by INCAE, the most promising sector is food production (vegetables, fruits, dairy) focused on high value-added goods, to satisfy the demand of North America and Europe.
This mission will gather companies which provide technological innovation in creating and exporting food products, as well as buyers and sellers.
Corruption is a serious issue, with social, political, legal, economic and ethical implications, affecting public and private organizations.
"Why companies should worry about corruption".
"Corruption seems inoffensive in the surface; however, the behaviors which embody it end up destroying the basic pillars of society".
"A transparent and integral image makes a company more attractive to financial institutions, enhances the possibilities of reaching new markets and improves the chances of getting awarded contracts or public licenses".
Ligia Olvera, strategic consultant, makes an extensive analysis of the subject from a Costa Rican perspective, with conclusions that are useful for all Central America.
In her analysis in the "Strategic Reflections" Blog in Elfinancierocr.com, Ligia concludes that: "Businesses commitment can not be just expressed as a PR slogan. In order to work and have a real and financial impact, Corporate Social Responsibility programs must be endorsed by the will and commitment of the CEO and the Board. In fact, many of the most successful cases were born exactly there, and then flow to lower corporate levels. These programs must come from the top, in the same way as strategies".
The economic crisis reveals the true reasons for businesses to practice corporate social responsibility.
"An intelligent business does not opt for the ethics of disinterest, an impossible thing for any modern business, but one of common interest. It does not mean abandoning the search for benefit or viability, but rather it means trying to achieve return through shared benefits.
The World Environment Center (WEC), in partnership with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., today announced the launch of a major initiative which aims to increase cleaner production and energy efficiency (CP/EE) practices in two countries, El Salvador and Guatemala.
The project is conducted through the U.S. Department of State funded “Cleaner Production Private Sector Partnerships” project in Central America.
The Annual Conference of the Central American Network for the Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility will be called ConvertiRSE.
The conference will be held on November 17, 18, and 19 and will bring together the main representatives of the organizations that are in charge of promoting RSE in each of the countries: CentraRSE in Guatemala, Fundemas in El Salvador, FundahRSE in Honduras, UniRSE in Nicaragua, IntegraRSE in Panama, and the Business Association for Development (AED) in Costa Rica.
The National Forum will be held on November 13th at the Vista Real Hotel, kilometer 9, on the El Salvador Highway.
In order to raise the consciousness of companies and institutions with regard to economic, social and environmental problems affecting the world and the importance of continuing social responsibility during hard times to their competitiveness and sustainability, the Guatemalan Center for Corporate Social Responsibility in Action (CentraRSE) will hold the Third National RSE 2008 Forum on November 13th.
Central America has begun to broaden corporate participation in social responsibility by unifying its indicators.
The project consists of implementing a participative regional proces with the goal of encouraging policies of social responsibility in as great a number of companies as possible.
The indicators to be put in place will make companies more responsible to both its internal and external publics.
A group of businessmen says that socially responsible business polices aren't acts of philanthropy. They're good business because when society prospers companies are more successful.
The national presidents of the Central American Network of Social Responsibility in Business (RSE) met in San Pedro Sula, Honduras Tuesday to determine common policies for the region.
Shareholders in Canadian Goldcorp Inc. mining firm are exercising their influence in support of human rights in Guatemala.
A group of shareholders from Canada and Sweden have reached an agreement with Goldcorp Inc., which has agreed to commission an independent human rights impact assessment of its operations in Guatemala.
The investors spent more than two years trying to convince Goldcorp to improve their practices, even conducting a field trip to Goldcorp’s Marlin mine in Guatemala where they met with local NGOs, indigenous people, government authorities and company representatives. The trip culminated in a shareholder resolution submitted to the company.