BUSINESSMED , represented by it General Secretary Mrs Jihen Boutiba and an important delegation representing some of its members, namely the Malta Employers Association (MEA) and Spazio alla Responsabilità, took part in the 4^thCorporate Social Responsibility Annual Conference on the 16^th and 17^th of April 2018 at the Conrad Hotel, Cairo.

The 4^th CSR Annual Conference on: “The impact of responsible business on economic & social empowerment” was organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Federation of the Egyptian Industries (FEI) in cooperation with the ALEXBANK, Professional Development Foundation (PDF) and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, with the support of BUSINESSMED, the Global Compact Network Egypt, American Chamber of Commerce, Gerhart Center (AUC), ANIMA Investment Network, COMMUNICATE and RADA. The conference highlighted the importance of the presence of productive, profitable and sustainable enterprises, together with a strong social economy and a viable public sector and civil society, as the key tools to achieve equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic development and social welfare. The attendees shared their experience, good corporate practices and worked towards improving the mutual understanding between government, business organisations and other CSR stakeholders on approaches of promoting responsible business conduct. In particular, the first roundtable highlighted the views of the Egyptian Ministers (Trade and Industry, and Investment and International Cooperation) on the impact of CSR in providing and enabling environment to support the private sector in the development process in Egypt.

In the sidelines of the 1^st day of the conference, BUSINESSMED met with the FEI representatives, in the presence of the Federation’s Executive Director Dr Khaled Abdel Azim and the General Secretary of German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce – GACIC Dr Alaa Ezz, in order to give new impetus to strategic partnership with FEI and introduce new ways of strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation. This meeting added “New Vigour and Momentum” to the growing cooperation in the field of project management by providing capacity building to national employers’ organisations. Several meetings were arranged with ILO to explore new means of cooperation and vocational trainings.

The event was an opportunity for BUSINESSMED to strengthen its relations and corporation with its members the FEI and MAE and to renew its engagement and commitment as a part of the UN Global Compact, to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.