The Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2012 (CRS Award 2012) kickedoff on August 27 in Hanoi , to honour outstanding businesses gainingachievements in their operation, as well as in protecting theenvironment in the period 2010-2012.

The awardwas launched by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) inconjunction with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry ofIndustry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, andother related ministries and agencies.

Pham Thi Thu Hang, VCCI General Secretary♛ said,this year’s award is held in the context of an ongoing global economicrecession. Businesses should consider this as an opportunity to enhancetheir competitiv❀eness through improving both working and livingconditions for their workers, as well as protecting the environment.

Florian Beranek, Chief TechnicalAdvisor of the United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO)-VCCI CSRproject, asserted that the award will recognise businesses having acomprehensive view on their social responsibilities and putting theseCSR principles into their daily operations.

The award, launched for the first time in 2005, will be implemented bythe Business Office for Sustainable Development and Business Council forSustainable Development, in coordination with the project of supportingsmall and medium enterprises in raising awareness of and practisingtheir social responsibility.

Businesses canregister to join the award until the end of November. Evaluatingprocesses and assessment criteria can be found on the websitewww.sd4b.vn/dondangky.-VNA