Record breaking 550 delegates from 34 countries attended the 6th annual Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility in Ho Chi Minh City. Companies honored for outstanding CSR Projects and Programs at Gala Awards Ceremony.

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)– A record breaking 550 delegates from 34 countries attended the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility 2007 at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers in HCMC, Vietnam on September 27 & 28, 2007. Recognized as being the largest and most significant conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Asia, is co-organized by the Asian Institute of Management Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. Center for Corporate Responsibility, United Nations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and ActionAid International Vietnam. The organizing committee is composed of representatives from major sponsors, regional NGOs, International organizations and CSR organizations.

The Guest of Honor opening the conference was His Excellency Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training. The event concluded with the much anticipated Gala Dinner and Asian CSR Awards.

The 2007 Asian CSR Awards was sponsored by Chemoil. This year’s awards attracted 186 entries from 14 countries. The program recognizes and honors companies in Asia for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programs in CSR. These projects should demonstrate the company's leadership, sincerity and on-going commitment in incorporating ethical values, compliance with legal requirements, respect for individuals, involvement in communities and protection of the environment into the way they do business.

The Asian CSR Awards recognizes and honors companies in Asia for their projects and programs in corporate social responsibility. The Awards are given in five categories: Best Workplace Practices, Concern for Health, Environmental Excellence, Poverty Alleviation and Support and Improvement of Education. There is an exhaustive search and selection process for the Awards that include the generation of entries, initial screening, short listing by a panel of experts and final judging.

Two new CSR Awards were also launched at AFCSR 2007 Intel –AIM Corporate Social Responsibility Award and Banyan Tree Value Challenge.

The theme of AFCSR 2007 is CSR - A Driving Force for Growth and Development: How CSR Can Reduce Poverty, Generate Investments and Trade, and Improve Business Performance. Dr. Vo-Tong Xuan, Rector, An Giang University co-chairs the event with Mr. Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Advisors, Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. AIM Center for Corporate Responsibility (AIM-RVR Center).

AFCSR’s primary mission is to highlight innovative programs and best practices in CSR by corporations in Asia and to promote CSR as a key strategy in addressing public needs and problems, to showcase corporate innovation in CSR in Asia and among Asian firms, to promote new thinking and standards on CSR as strategy, and to build a network of CSR practitioners across Asia. The event is extremely well supported and attended not only by senior business executives from Asia, but also by major NGO’s throughout the Asian region. Additionally, a number of Vietnam government officials are expected to attend this year’s conference.

AFCSR 2007 is indebted to the ongoing support of numerous distinguished sponsors including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Unilever and Intel as Strategic Corporate Partners; Chemoil Energy Limited as sponsor of the Asian CSR Awards; Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd. (APRIL), HOLCIM Vietnam, Nokia, UBS, Talisman Vietnam Limited and Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd. and Vinasun Corporation as Official Industry Partners; Eurasia Group, Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, Ambuja Cements Limited, Figaro Coffee Company and QB I.A.C Co., Ltd as Cooperating Partners; and Intel as the Strategic Technology Partner. The Official Public Relations Company Partner is Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide with Integrated Public Relations and PR Society Indonesia as Cooperating PR Companies. Official media partners include International Herald Tribune, ANC, Business Monitor International/Asia Monitor, Newsbreak, BusinessWorld, China CSR, CSR Asia, Masso Communications Group, Ethical Corporation Magazine and The Saigon Times Group