Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - the first edition of the (International Forum for Social Responsibility) began today. The event, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development under the theme (From Commitment to Impact) features the participation of esteemed ministers, a distinguished group of CEOs from the private sector, international specialists and experts, as well as decision-makers in the field of corporate social responsibility, both locally and internationally, in Riyadh.
His Excellency, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, En. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, said in his speech at the opening of the Forum: "It is my honor, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to welcome you today to the opening of the International Forum for Social Responsibility 2024 in its first edition. Through organizing this Forum, the Kingdom aims to make it a global event and a platform for dialogue in the field of social responsibility. This will enable us all to meet, share experiences and insights, discuss challenges, and propose solutions and enablers to expand the private sector's participation in sustainable development. Together, we will work to present a global model to be followed in building new partnerships between the public and private sectors".
His Excellency the Minister reviewed the stages of development that corporate social responsibility has gone through and where it stands today. He highlighted the expected trends in social responsibility, which focus on innovative practices, sustainable digitalization, innovation, and the shift towards developing enablers for the strategic transformation of corporate social responsibility. This includes the use of technology, recycling, and the circular economy, integrating these practices into the daily operations of companies, and utilizing renewable energy to preserve the sustainability of the planet. He emphasized the importance of human development and the balanced growth of communities in harmony with their environment. Additionally, he pointed out how the private sector has taken on a crucial role in making the world a better place today.
His Excellency the Minister affirmed that the Kingdom's achievements in social responsibility are "an inspiring story of transformation and empowerment". He pointed out that the Kingdom has given great attention to enabling social responsibility and positioning it as a strategic goal within Saudi Vision 2030, which is reflected in the objective of "enhancing the social responsibility of companies". This focus has been mirrored in the development of enablers and tools for the strategic transformation of corporate social responsibility, with the most notable of these being: These include the formation of a Social Responsibility Committee by a decision of the esteemed Council of Ministers, the development of a social responsibility strategy, the launch of the National Social Responsibility Platform to lead the transformation in social responsibility disclosure, the declaration of March 23rd each year as Social Responsibility Day, the highlighting of private sector initiatives, the issuance of a corporate guide for social responsibility, the development of the social responsibility index in the Saudi market, and the establishment of a shared national identity for social responsibility.
His Excellency the Minister explained that these efforts have resulted in a significant increase in the contributions of companies to total social spending, rising from 1.19% in 2019 to 4.15% by the end of 2023. Additionally, the proportion of large companies offering social responsibility programs and initiatives grew from 30% in 2019 to 65% by the end of 2023. The Kingdom has also advanced in global rankings, notably achieving 16th place in the Social Responsibility Index in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook report, compared to 41st place in 2021. The Kingdom aims to be among the top countries in this field by 2030.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, through the Forum, aims to empower decision-makers in the private sector, government representatives, developmental organizations, and experts in social responsibility and sustainability to engage in dialogue, discuss challenges and development opportunities, stimulate innovation, and contribute to shaping the future of social responsibility at the global level. The Forum also seeks to promote excellence and competitiveness among participants, foster partnerships between the public, private, and non-profit sectors, and open opportunities for global partnerships in this field.
This Forum is organized as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and in line with the Ministry's strategy to enhance community responsibility by advancing the developmental sector in the Kingdom, building and developing economic and developmental partnerships to achieve a vibrant, participatory society. It is also part of the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen its role in social responsibility, reflecting its growing international stature as one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world. The Kingdom also demonstrates its leadership in addressing global challenges, as it ranked 16th globally in the Social Responsibility Index, according to the Global Competitiveness Report.
