DUBAI: Prioritizing sustainability in business and making it an integral part of their strategies to tackle new challenges and prepare for the post-pandemic recovery, industry, experts said during the Dubai Dialogue 2020.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the annual conference and examined several key sustainability and CSR trends and issues reshaping the global business landscape. Practical strategies and valuable insights were also shared by leading public and private sector organizations and stakeholders in the UAE. The conference highlighted the business benefits of adopting sustainability as a strategy, tool, and mechanism that can be used to ensure resiliency and competitiveness while boosting organizations’ triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits.
Dr. Belaid Rettab, Chief Economist, Senior Director, Economic Research & Sustainable Business Development Sector, Dubai Chamber, said that Dubai Dialogue is the largest conference organized by Dubai Chamber dedicated to CSR and sustainability matters, describing it as an ideal platform for industry experts to share knowledge and best practices in this area. He explained this year’s importance as discussions focused on issues and new challenges created by Covid-19, and opportunities emerging in a changing business landscape.
Prof. Vijay Pereira, Associate Professor of Strategic and International Business at Khalifa University, UAE, noted that the business environment has changed in an unprecedented way and many of the successful conventional ways of doing things should be revised. He highlighted the role of technology in the post-Covid-19 era and the importance of integrating employee health and well-being in future sustainability strategies.
Dr. Kamel Mellahi, Senior Manager at Dubai Chamber’s Centre for Responsible Business, said sustainability, business continuity, and competitiveness are inextricably linked and must go hand in hand. He also noted that sustainability is part of good business ethics and a key component of any resilient business model.
Source: WAM
