Corporate Social Responsibility in Saudi Arabia and Globally: Key Challenges, Opportunities and Best Practices. A Report of the First Leadership Dialogue

Abstract

On November 10, 2008, over 20 senior representatives from academia, local chambers of commerce, international NGOs, the Saudi government, and Saudi foundations assembled in Riyadh to discuss the existing Saudi CSR environment and identify concrete steps for furthering CSR initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The meeting was co-convened by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the Harvard Kennedy School's Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative (CRI), and the King Khalid Foundation, in cooperation with Accountability, the International Business Leaders Forum, Tamkeen Consulting, Tomorrow's Company, the United Nations Office for Partnerships, and the World Bank Institute The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority was established in 2000, and under its 10x10 Initiative, is working to establish Saudi Arabia as one of the world's 10 most competitive economies by 2010. To achieve this, in addition to promoting legal and fiscal reforms that facilitate increased competitiveness, SAGA is supporting a number of initiatives that build on Saudi Arabia's foundation for corporate responsibility to support and increase responsible business practices in the Kingdom.