UNDP Trinidad and Tobago

CSR and Government: Bystander, Follower or Leader

10 October 2011

It does not happen often that panel discussions on public policy issues are being attended by three government ministers at the same time. This, however, was the case at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) breakfast meeting held on Tuesday, the 4 October 2011 at the Chamber’s Head Office in Westmoorings and entitled ‘CSR and Government: Bystander, Follower or Leader’.

Ministers at the TTCIC Event.
Photo: TTCIC

The well-attended event saw the Minister of Trade and Industry, Social Development and the Environment jointly discussing the role of the state in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and answering question from the 100-strong audience. In particular, the debate focused on the need for a national CSR policy to enable the government to set the strategic direction and provide a regulatory framework for corporate ethics to the country’s stakeholder community.

In this regard, Minister for Trade and Industry, the Hon. Stephen Cadiz pointed out that his Ministry was determined to embark on a joint project together with the UNDP to develop such a policy framework, something that would help the country’s Private Sector to integrate sustainability principles into its core business operations.

Minister Cadiz also highlighted the value of a CSR policy for marketing and branding Trinidad and Tobago as an attractive investment destination whose competitive environment was characterised by principles of good corporate governance, socially committed and environmentally conscious companies and a high level of compliance with international sustainability standards.