Elie Maroun El Asmar, Head of Commercial Banking in Qatar
Doha: Businesses in Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that want to improve their approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are encouraged to register for the second edition of the Living Business programme.
The programme, organised by Globally, get in the Ring and HSBC, aims to improve the sustainability of businesses by helping them deliver a significant ESG enhancement initiative.
Participants will be provided with one-on-one coaching with ESG experts to help them achieve their goals. The companies that show the most promise will present their initiatives at the UK pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, with winners invited to attend a course at the Institute for Sustainability Leadership at The University of Cambridge.
Daniel Howlett, HSBC’s Head of Commercial Banking in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: “If the world hopes to achieve its climate targets, business has to become more sustainable. Our latest Navigator Report told us that 98% of companies in the Middle East see multiple opportunities for improving their environmental and ethical sustainability, so we do feel optimistic.”
“HSBC is committed to helping our customers make the transition to a low-carbon future, not only by providing green and sustainable finance but also by sharing our knowledge and expertise,” he added.
Applications are open to all active businesses in Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and the UAE who are prepared to implement a project that will have a significant ESG impact such as:
• Reducing the business’s or industry’s environmental footprint
• Enhancing the social capital of the business through initiatives such as improving the health, safety, wellbeing or skills of its staff or the wellbeing of its customers
• Creating a sustainable governance framework, including engagement, reporting and transparency.
Keith Bradley, Managing Partner at Globally, said: “After the success of the first edition in the UAE last year, we are thrilled to expand the programme to four other markets in the region. Despite a challenging year, sustainability has really been on the forefront of companies’ agendas. We would like to support them in making their businesses even more successful through real tangible change.”
Last October, HSBC set out an ambitious plan to prioritize financing and investment that supports the transition to a net-zero global economy – and helps to build a thriving, resilient future for society and businesses. At the heart of the plan is a pledge to reduce financed emissions from HSBC’s portfolio of customers to net-zero by 2050 or sooner, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
“We are encouraged by the commitment and dedication of our customers to become more sustainable in how they operate. We have seen much progress over the past year and will continue to support them with innovative, incentivizing and tailored solutions to fulfill their ESG ambition,” said Elie Maroun El Asmar, Country Head of Commercial Banking in Qatar.
To apply for Living Business 2021, please visit www.livingbusiness.me.
