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PublicAffairsAsia to Expand SharingValueAsiaProgramme

2014-04-23 11:00 2816

BANGKOK, April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --PublicAffairsAsia is set to expand its SharingValueAsia (SVA) forum with the launch of an innovative website connecting corporations, stakeholders and informed consumers, alongside the publication of a new report and a significant build out of the SharingValueAsia summit.

As corporations become ever more engaged with their stakeholders, SharingValueAsia will seek to build new relationships with business, civil society and government agencies to address common social, economic and environmental problems and lock in future growth.

SharingValueAsia is being developed by PublicAffairsAsia, the network for corporate affairs practitioners. Sponsors and partners already confirmed include Hewlett-Packard, CARE International, KKR, ActionAid International, FleishmanHillard, Food Industry Asia, Conservation International, Save The Children and the Suu Foundation.

SVA will provide a platform for corporations to highlight their significant achievements in areas including citizenship, public-private partnership and sustainability and connect them to key stakeholder groups.

Commenting, Craig Hoy, Executive Director of PublicAffairsAsia, said: "SharingValueAsia is seeking to develop sustainable corporate-led solutions through dialogue with business leaders, policymakers, NGOs and informed consumers. We invite companies across Asia Pacific to join us in shaping the SharingValueAsia agenda -- and in turn promote their programmes -- across the region."

The annual summit, being held in Singapore on October 9, will bring together professionals to share their expertise, explore issues and forge new connections. The theme for 2014 is "The Era of Empowerment and early-bird reservations are now open at the website. The keynote speech will be delivered by Gabi Zedlmayer, Global Vice President and Chief Progress Officer, HP Living Progress at Hewlett-Packard Company.

Elizabeth Hernandez, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Asia-Pacific & Japan at HP said: "HP is delighted to be the lead corporate sponsor for SharingValueAsia 2014. Global citizenship has been part of the company's DNA for the past 75 years. At HP, we combine our people and technology to help solve some of society's toughest challenges. It's a vision we call Living Progress, and to us it means creating a better future for everyone through our actions and innovations. It's how we do business."

To address the critical strategic needs of corporations engaged in creating shared value initiatives, FleishmanHillard becomes the exclusive agency sponsor of the SharingValueAsiaprogramme. "As the me generation has evolved into the we generation, brands and companies are held to a higher standard: they must continue to meet business objectives and increase their bottom line, while also changing the world for good," said Lynne Anne Davis, Asia Pacific president of FleishmanHillard. "Today's most enlightened, innovative brands are connecting their propositions with compelling, relevant social issues and actively engaging stakeholders in the cause. We are proud to support PublicAffairsAsia's platform for successful Shared Value initiatives to broaden the community of progressive public-private partnerships in Asia."

The programme is also sponsored by KKR, which is developing groundbreaking partnerships focused on scaling social enterprises through operational support and social and environmental analysis. Commenting on its engagement, Steve Okun, Director of Public Affairs at KKR Asia, said: "Across Asia, policymakers, corporations and community leaders are realising the benefit from responsible investment -- both in terms of capital invested and then in how businesses operate day-to-day. The launch of SharingValueAsia is the latest tool to connect practitioners and operators to share best practices and improve corporate sustainability, with the ultimate goal of providing solutions across the social and economic spectrum."

Reflecting the vital work done by NGOs in driving partnership, SharingValueAsia brings on board a series of not-for-profit groups and charities committed to constructive cross-sector engagement. Tim Bishop, Regional Private Sector Specialist at CARE International commented: "Conducting 'business as usual' around the world is no longer an option for the private sector, nor for organisations delivering public services or representing civil society. To tackle today's most significant societal and environmental issues in a meaningful way requires collaboration, and a shared agenda relevant across every sector. CARE International is very proud to be associated again this year with the SharingValueAsia Forum, and welcomes the introduction of these new resources and their future application."

Emma Hanley, Philanthropy and Major Partnerships Manager (Asia) at ActionAid International, added: "It has become clear that developing solutions to tackle the most urgent and complex problems facing the Asia Pacific region requires genuine collaboration between government, companies and civil society -- breaking down barriers and harnessing the combined expertise and strengths of all sectors. SharingValueAsia is built on this recognition and creates a space for open dialogue, sharing of learning and innovation, and building connections, so that we can work together more effectively to create sustainable change for communities in this region. ActionAid International is proud to once again be partnering with SharingValueAsia and the expanded programme this year."

The online portal, SharingValue.Asia, which launches in June, will be a key knowledge centre hosting information, research and news regarding the development of shared value and partnership initiatives. The portal will also include a collection of corporate micro-sites allowing companies to promote their own thought leadership, reports and news beyond immediate stakeholders to informed consumers.

The platform will offer seven core hubs: Strategy, Economy, Society, Industry, Impact, Thinking andLeadership. Central to the website will be The Knowledge Base, a library of over 200 case studies highlighting industry best practice across Asia Pacific.

To launch the expanded programme, PublicAffairsAsia, in conjunction with HP, will in May publish a special case study report highlighting best practice in shared value and partnership across Asia Pacific.

Source: PublicAffairsAsia
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