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20 Jun, 2014

Myanmar in focus at OECD 2014 Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct

OECD – Paris, 19 June 2014 – Responsible business conduct is crucial for open and stable international investment climates. OECD Secretary-General Ángel Gurría will open the 2014 OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct on 26-27 June 2014, together with Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation Lilianne Ploumen and French Minister for Finance and Public Accounts Michel Sapin.More than 500 ministers, government officials and representatives from business, unions and civil society will participate.

As the global economy strengthens, it is essential to improve the business climate by encouraging companies to adopt more responsible business practices that take into account both their profits and the impact they are having on society. It is also in the best interests of stakeholders and governments to stimulate these efforts and improve their efficiency.

Participants will assess progress since 2013 of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the latest challenges facing companies, especially after the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in 2013. The sessions will cover the following topics:

–       Reinforcing the ecosystem of responsibility: Panellists will take stock of the advances in the global RBC field since the inaugural meeting of the Global Forum in June 2013. Particular focus will be given to developments in emerging economies and challenging investment environments.

–       Responsible business conduct in Myanmar: This special event will focus on why responsible investment is essential for Myanmar’s continued development. The findings of the new OECD Investment Policy Review and recent RBC-specific initiatives in Myanmar will be presented. The keynote address will be given by San Lwin, Deputy Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, Myanmar. Panelists at the session will include:

  •  Stephen Thomsen, Head, OECD Investment Policy Reviews
  •  AlanKrill, Foreign Affairs Officer, Business and Human Rights Section, United States State Department
  •  Khine Khine Nwe, Member, Myanmar Investment Commission and Joint-Secretary, Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
  •  Aung Tun Thet, President’s Economic Advisor and UN Global Compact Representative
  •  Ed Potter, Director, Global Workplace Rights, The Coca-Cola Company
  •  Julie Vallat, Head, Ethics and Human Rights Department, Legal Division, Total
  •  Zaw Oo, National Co-ordinator, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
  •  Vicky Bowman, Director, Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business
  •  Marc Levy, Director, GRET

Other topics to be discussed at the Forum include:

–       Responsible supply chains in the textiles and garment sector;

–       Stakeholder engagement and due diligence in the extractive sector;

–       Responsible business conduct in the financial sector and agricultural supply chains.

Download the full Forum agenda here: http://mneguidelines.oecd.org/globalforumonresponsiblebusinessconduct/2014GFRBC_Agenda.pdf.