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GE’s New Citizenship Report Reflects Realities of Reset World

Summarizes the Relationship Between Business and Society in Challenging Economy

GE’s New Citizenship Report Reflects Realities of Reset World

Summarizes the Relationship Between Business and Society in Challenging Economy

Published 07-21-09

Submitted by General Electric Company

Fairfield, Conn. - July 21, 2009 - GE today released its fifth annual Citizenship Report, entitled Resetting Responsibilities. The report covers GE's worldwide operations for the 2008 fiscal year and reviews GE's corporate responsibility initiatives from the perspective of four key themes - energy and climate change, demographics, growth markets and financial markets. The report includes an in-depth discussion on the relationship between business and society during the global recession and reflects the importance of corporate responsibility as an integral part of GE's business strategy.

"Governments, business and society must all play a role in renewing our economies, solving societal problems and creating jobs," Jeff Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE said. "GE's focus on integrity, our experience and our efforts on advancing the social needs of health, infrastructure, energy, finance and education position us as a natural partner in a sustainable economic recovery."

The report, related performance data and other content are available to users via the Company's citizenship website at www.ge.com/citizenship. It illustrates how GE is working with key stakeholders such as employees, customers, investors, governments, academia and others to tackle some of the world's toughest problems. To reflect this engagement, the report includes more than 20 perspectives from global thought leaders on key issues.

"General Electric has made a serious effort to draw a corporate responsibility roadmap for employees, investors, and other stakeholders," said Elizabeth McGeveran, senior vice president for Governance & Sustainable Investment at F&C Management Ltd. "GE's Citizenship Report provides frank reflections on the financial crisis and some of the challenges and opportunities that the company faces. As an investor, I appreciate GE's efforts to discuss tough business issues more directly. Over time the company has proven that it is striving to make its citizenship reporting more relevant than ever to the investor community."

Highlights in this year’s report include:

  • a reconvened Expert Advisory Panel that offered comments, questions and suggestions for the report and provided an unedited letter of public commentary. Also included is GE’s response to last year's panel letter;
  • an update on GE's human rights statement of principles implementation, international training and development performance, policy updates on rule of law and other initiatives;
  • a reporting format that aligns the Company's business themes with its citizenship priorities, including a focus on Operational Excellence;
  • summaries of healthcare, water and energy products that address global needs; and,
  • updated metrics and content on all performance areas including Environment, Health & Safety, Suppliers, Compliance & Governance, Employees, Public Policy, Customers, Products & Services and Communities & Philanthropy.

To sign up for more information about GE's corporate citizenship initiatives and practices, please visit http://www.genewscenter.com/webuser/register.asp.

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.

General Electric Company logo

General Electric Company

General Electric Company

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and financial services company. GE operates in more than 150 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. GE works on things that matter. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE's approach to corporate citizenship and to business are driven by a common understanding of the role we can play….the best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest global challenges.

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