Training on “Promoting CSR in Western China” in Qinghai

From April 21-23, 2010 the China Association for NGO Cooperation, CANGO held a training in Xining titled “Promoting CSR in Western China”.It was jointly organized with the Qinghai Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and the Qinghai International Center for Promotion of Economic Cooperation and financially supported by the German Heinrich Boell Foundation.

More than 40 people participated in the training. The opening ceremony was even observed by 60 people. Mr. Zhao Daxing, Deputy Executive Director of CANGO, held a welcome speech introducing CANGO’s work in general and the CSR program in particular. He was followed by Ms. Sa Wenjun, Director of the Office for Foreign Affairs and Economy of the Qinghai Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry giving a brief introduction to the preparation work for the training.  The Department had supported the training by inviting a large group of companies with a background of agricultural production. During the training the big variety of these products became obvious which is also due to the various ethnic groups living and working in Qinghai.

The group of NGOs participating in the training was smaller than expected since several representatives joined the disaster relief work in Yushu after the earthquake of April 14, 2010.

The training started with a general introduction for all participants covering the concept of CSR, the situation in China, the necessity for companies to engage in CSR and the various stakeholders related to the issue. It went on for the companies introducing voluntary standards, issues of export, supply chain, global trade, markets and investment and the demands of foreign governments related to CSR.

NGOs discussed their particular role and perspective on CSR, the issues of social enterprises, participatory community development and resource acquisition.

Finally companies and NGOs came back together to discuss questions of mutual exchange and cooperation.

The training included lectures, role plays, group discussions and a field visit to the “Qinghaiqing” company for seabuckthorn products.