LONDON - Leaders from government and business across the world will be joined by academics, union officials and NGO representatives to take part in a major corporate citizenship conference this week. Organised by the Commonwealth Business Council and the Royal Institute for International Affairs, the event is taking place at Chatham House on 2-3 July 2003.

Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Corporate Social Responsibility, will be debating the first session alongside former Overseas Development Minister, Baroness Chalker, and Narayana Murthy, Chairman of the Board of Infosys Technologies Ltd.

The conference, which is unique in bringing together such a range of representatives from the developed and developing world, will examine the full remit of corporate citizenship. Sessions will focus on the practical application of partnerships, addressing roles and responsibilities, financing mechanisms and the impact of regulatory and legislative approaches.

Conclusions to the issues assessed will provide practical policy suggestions relevant to all economies. It will form the basis of a framework of corporate citizenship to be presented for consideration at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting taking place this December in Nigeria.

“The last decade has witnessed a transformation in the role of the private sector in sustainable development”, says Dr Mohan Kaul, Director-General of the Commonwealth Business Council. “This conference will play a significant role in establishing an agreed minimal framework for what this role should be.”

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