“Corporate social responsibility in India – Hope? Hype? True Business Case”

A high level seminar was hosted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Belgium on “Corporate Social Responsibility–A true business case” in Mumbai recently. The seminar was hosted in partnership with UNICEF, Global Compact Network Belgium, Global Compact Network India, the Indian Merchants’ Chamber, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the Indo-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a first for a CSR seminar of such magnitude.

The seminar was a milestone in the CSR landscape in India, wherein diverse stakeholders at the highest level came together to discuss how businesses can engage to drive the CSR agenda forward. Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium received a warm welcome at the seminar from all participants. A keynote speech in the context of the Belgian Economic Mission to India, given by Mr Jan Van Dessel, Director General for Bilateral Relations of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, on behalf of HE Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and European Affairs, was well received.

This seminar brought together Indian, Belgian and international high level experts, academics and business leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the sustainability agenda in India, including the mandatory policy for CSR spends under the new Companies Bill more