Export Development Canada (EDC) today issued its sixth Annual Report on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which highlighted EDC's enhanced human rights assessment process to ensure that relevant transactions receive appropriate analysis.

"EDC continued to advance its CSR agenda in 2009, through the worst global economic downturn in recent history and at a time when demands upon the corporation were among the greatest in its history," said Eric Siegel, President and CEO of EDC. "The evolution of CSR at EDC continued as a core part of our business process, and one that brought great value to Canadian companies trying to compete during the economic crisis of 2009," he added.

The 2009 CSR Report outlines EDC's other CSR activities and achievements during the year, including:

• Identification of climate change as a CSR strategic priority;


• Completion of the Environmental Policy review process, including a public commentary period (the new policy will be released in 2010);


• Temporary expansion of EDC's mandate to enable the provision of more support for Canadian exporters and investors during the economic crisis;


• Purchase of carbon offsets for business travel undertaken in 2008;


• First employee volunteers under EDC-CARE Canada partnership deployed to work on microfinance initiatives in Peru;


• Recruitment of the Chair in Environmental Finance at Waterloo University; and


• Continuing support of the work of Dr. John Ruggie, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights.

The reporting approach of the CSR Report was also enhanced by the use of a classic triple bottom line format with select quantitative indicators which were assured by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

To reduce EDC's operational footprint, this detailed report is only available online.

For more information and to view EDC's Annual Report on CSR visit: www.edc.ca/csrreport2009.

EDC is Canada's export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC's knowledge and partnerships are used by more than 8,400 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year. EDC is financially self-sustaining, a recognized leader in financial reporting and economic analysis, and has been named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for nine consecutive years.

Export Development Canada

Export Development Canada

EDC is a Canadian financial Crown corporation that helps companies go, grow, and succeed in their international business. We do this by providing financing, insurance, bonding, trade knowledge, and matchmaking connections to help Canadian companies sell and invest abroad. EDC can also provide financial solutions to foreign buyers to facilitate and grow purchases from Canadian companies. A financially self-sustaining corporation, EDC is a recognized leader in financial reporting, economic analysis. At EDC, we commit to carry out our mandate in a socially responsible manner consistent with our corporate values.

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