UN Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia
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PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
E-mail: aramazd.ghalamkaryan@undp.org
ARMENIAN COMPANIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS JOIN THE UN GLOBAL
COMPACT
17.11.2006
UNDP and two GC members in Armenia launch corporate citizenship projects
Yerevan, Armenia – Today, at the Golden Palace Hotel in Yerevan United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development of Armenia and 19 private companies and civil society
organizations officially launched the Global Compact in Armenia. Mr. Ara
Petrosyan, Deputy Minister and Ms. Consuelo Vidal, UN resident coordinator
and UNDP resident representative presented the Global Compact.
In an address to the World Economic Forum on 31 January 1999, United Nation
Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged business leaders to join an
international initiative – the Global Compact (GC) – that would bring
companies together with UN agencies, labour and civil society to support
universal environmental and social principles.
The Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within
their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human
rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption. The Global
Compact offers engagement opportunities to all participants through the
networks, dialogues, learning events and partnership projects.
At the event, two other important agreements were signed. The first one was
on the establishment of an Arts and Crafts Training and Production Center
for Disabled Children: the Global Compact member and UNDP’s partner
K-Telecom/VivaCell company decided to make this project a reality in
cooperation with Pyunic non-governmental organization.
Also, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Union of
Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia to enhance cooperation with the UN
office in Armenia through a number of joint initiatives.
Ms Vidal mentioned in her speech: "UNDP strongly believes that private
sector has a very crucial role to play in the development of the country and
UNDP is partner in this sense."
On the occasion of the launch, Mr. Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN
Global Compact, sent a welcoming message to Armenia, where he noted: "It is
very encouraging to see that the United Nations has a committed partner in
the Armenian business community that is ready to join us in carrying the
Global Compact forward. Commitment and leadership of government, civil
society and academia will be crucial for the Global Compact to succeed in
your country. I am confident that the Global Compact can take root in
Armenia and help the country further integrate into global economy and
contribute to better life of the people of Armenia."
"We would like to invite more private sector companies to engage in this
initiative and sign-up to become the members of the Armenian network.
Jointly we can do more for your business, for Armenia and for its future,"
– noted the UN resident coordinator in Armenia in her speech.
Nowadays, the Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate citizenship
initiative that involves a global network of over 3,000 companies in some
100 countries, as well as close to 600 non-business participants from civil
society, labour and academia.
In Armenia, the following companies and organizations have already joined
the GC Network: American University of Armenia, Ashtarak Kat, Ameria,
Armenal, BAKSS, Broncoway, Cascade Capital Holding, Coca Cola, the
Enterprise Incubator Foundation, the International Centre for Human
Development (ICHD), KPMG Armenia, Marriott Armenia Hotel, Pyunic NGO,
Tufenkian Hospitality, Unicomp, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
(Employers) of Armenia (UMBA), K-Telecom/ VivaCell, Grant Thornton Amyot,
and Sourcio.
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ABOUT UNDP: UNDP is the UN’s global network to help people meet their
development needs and build a better life. We are on the ground in 166
countries, working as a trusted partner with governments, civil society and
the private sector to help them build their own solutions to global and
national development challenges. Further information can be found at
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For additional information, please contact Mr. Armen Matosyan at
armen.matosyan@undp.org, tel.: +374 10 547 268 or Mr. Aramazd Ghalamkaryan
at aramazd.ghalamkaryan@undp.org, tel.: +37491 436 312, +37410 566 073 +
121.