November 3rd, 2015, Bucharest: The American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham Romania) launches “Community Investment Guide”, a useful tool for companies operating on Romania’s market and are interested in the active role and responsibility undertaken by the business sector with regard to the society. The guidelines are based on best practices through the collaborative expertise of the AmCham Romania members and of some of the largest companies in the world, widely recognized for their community involvement, adding thus to the previously published list of documents ("AmCham Romania’s Code of Corporate Governance" and "Anti-Corruption Guidelines").
"By launching the first Community Investment Guide, AmCham encourages member companies to embrace a responsible, just and transparent behavior with regard to their CSR programs through a better knowledge of the legal framework and practices applicable in this field," said Anda Todor, the project coordinator. Also, "The Community Investment Guide represents AmCham’s contribution through the Corporate Governance Committee to a better understanding of how Romanian and foreign companies could better define their community investment strategy", noted Catalin Velescu, coordinator of the Corporate Governance Committee.
The Community Investment Guide presents the legal framework, explaining the importance of community investments and providing statistical data regarding this issue on a global level as well as in Romania, while also incorporating several recommendations concerning each step of the process for defining and implementing the investment in community policy: from criteria establishment, and partners’ selection, to project management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The guide also aims to support economic actors, from large companies to state enterprises and small and medium enterprises ("SMEs"), who understand that social responsibility is not a cost, but a strategic investment in the community, in the company and in its employees.
"We are happy to see a growing interest from our member companies with regard to the involvement in corporate social responsibility activities; a business strategy oriented towards the common good and respect for the environment is a successful model for a sustainable development. AmCham Romania proposes a proactive approach to improve these practices that contribute to the harmonious development of the community, aiming to support Romania’s business environment, regardless of the shareholders profile, with clearly highlighted principles and rules, concentrated within this best practices guide", stated Daniela Nemoianu, President of AmCham Romania.
