10.20.2003 ET

(CSRwire) UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Global Compact reports several new initiatives including:

Opening NASDAQ, Kell Stresses Importance of Shared Values
14 October - Georg Kell, Executive Head of the Global Compact, officially opened the NASDAQ stock market on Tuesday, as a guest of Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President of NASDAQ. (See www.unglobalcompact.org) At the opening in New York City, Kell said: "The global economy must be built on shared values and trust if it is to function smoothly." Observing that financial markets such as NASDAQ provide the essential "fuel" that keeps the global economy going, Kell stressed the importance of companies taking a proactive stance on social and environmental issues.

UN Forum Examines Ways to Increase Pro-Poor Business in Tanzania
Convened by UNDP with support from other UN agencies and the World Bank in Tanzania, more than 60 representatives from the government of Tanzania, the private sector, civil society, and the donor community came together in Dar es Salaam on 30 September for a two-day workshop on the "Growing Sustainable Business in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Initiative". (See www.unglobalcompact.org)

Secretary-General Joins in Celebration Honoring DuPont's Chad Holliday
Speaking at the Annual Award Dinner of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised DuPont Chairman and CEO Chad Holliday for supporting the Global Compact and promoting corporate citizenship around the world. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)

Ruggie Addresses Gathering of UN Resident Coordinators
John Ruggie, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the Global Compact and former Assistant Secretary-General, addressed the meeting of United Nations resident coordinators at UN Headquarters in New York today. In his remarks, Ruggie encouraged resident coordinators to work actively with the Global Compact in UN offices around the world. His speech also showcased how business, civil society and other actors can work together in support of UN goals. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)

Quality Management Foundation Adopts Global Compact Principles
As the first international body for quality management, the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) has adopted the Global Compact’s nine principles into the CSR guidelines of its EFQM Excellence Model, a non-prescriptive management framework currently used by over 20,000 organisations across Europe. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)

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