Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Announces New South East Asian Office in Manila

Mar 11, 2016 1:00 PM ET
Campaign: Empowering Sustainable Decisions
MANILA, March 8, 2016 /3BL Media/ - GRI, pioneer of global corporate sustainability reporting, announced plans to increase its presence and activities in the ASEAN region. As the provider of the world’s most widely used standards for sustainability reporting, GRI is leveraging its vast global network of reporters and strategic partners in over 90 countries to support the development of a sustainable economy across the region.

As part of this commitment, GRI has convened a group of dignitaries, ambassadors, political leaders and CEOs from across the region to discuss the importance of sustainability in Asia’s rapidly growing economies. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for Corporate Responsibility reporting over the last four years largely driven by mandatory and voluntary reporting requirements from policymakers. The meeting will be hosted by GRI Board member and former Philippine Secretary of Finance Roberto F. de Ocampo, who commented, “GRI already helps developed countries invest millions in sustainable development activities in emerging markets to address poverty, human rights and climate change. The sustainability reporting process is used around the world to address challenges that prevent businesses in the region from fully participating in the global economy. I am delighted that GRI will increase its activities across Asia, and particularly the ASEAN region. I look forward to further collaboration to support sustainable economic development across the region.”

Established in 1997, GRI is an international, independent organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate the impact of business on critical sustainability issues. GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards are a free public good and are used by thousands of companies in almost a hundred countries - as well as by dozens of governments worldwide – to ensure that non-financial risks are being taken into account. Employing an effective facilitator for foreign direct investment in emerging economies such as Asia is fundamental to building a more sustainable economy, enabling companies to take into account the full scope of sustainability challenges and to ensure that global investment flows are considering these risks.

GRI’s Chief Executive, Michael Meehan, commented, “While much of the world struggles with reduced foreign direct investment (FDI) and lower growth rates, Asian countries, and in particular ASEAN economies, continue to accelerate in these areas. But this growth has arrived on the backdrop of significant sustainability challenges for the region including climate change, poverty, human rights issues, and corruption. Asia must ensure that both corporates and governments work together to create a transparent, inclusive and resilient economy, and we are here to support these ambitions.”
 
GRI has a strong history of working in the ASEAN region to support local interests which includes working with stock exchanges and development banks. GRI is supported by the governments of Australia, Switzerland, Sweden and others for its work in the region. Later this month, GRI will deliver workshops to over 100 sustainability reporters across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and The Philippines to build capability, the first of which is titled, ‘An introduction to gender equality and corporate sustainability reporting’. In addition, there will be dedicated sessions related to the ASEAN region at the 5th GRI Global Conference in May which include ‘Crossing Borders: Sustainability data to strengthen the ASEAN economic community’ and ‘Building Trust in South Asia: Enforced or self-regulation’.
 
For more information please contact GRI’s Communications Director Rashmi van de Loenhorst at loenhorst@globalreporting.org.