What should a socially responsible business look like?
On December 3, as part of the Civil Society Week, the forum “Socially Responsible Business and Social Entrepreneurship” took place. The event was organized by the “Yuksalish” movement in collaboration with partners.
The event saw the participation of representatives from government bodies, business circles, international experts, and NGOs.
Participants noted that socially responsible business involves increasing accountability not only to clients, employees, and partners but also to society and the environment. Such businesses are built on adhering to ethical principles, including respect for human rights, labor laws, fair relations with all stakeholders, and transparency in operations.
The central topic of discussion was the integration of social and environmental initiatives into business models, allowing companies to not only enhance the efficiency of their production processes but also positively impact society and nature.
At the opening of the forum “Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship,” the chairman of the “Yuksalish” movement, the chairman of the Legislative Chamber Committee of the Oliy Majlis, Bobur Bekmurodov, spoke:
– Today, social entrepreneurship is becoming a global trend in addressing social issues and reducing poverty. Our entrepreneurs must be not only competitive but also pay special attention to human rights, environmental concerns, and social sustainability. We already have social businesses, but we need to promote them more actively.
One of the key aspects is environmental care: companies strive to reduce their ecological footprint, use resources efficiently, minimize emissions and waste, and support environmental initiatives. At the same time, socially responsible businesses actively invest in community development, supporting educational, cultural, and sports projects, creating jobs, especially for vulnerable groups, and participating in charitable actions.
Employee welfare also plays a crucial role, ensuring decent working conditions, fair pay, opportunities for professional growth, and the creation of an inclusive and safe work environment. In their relationships with clients, such companies ensure high-quality goods and services, engage in ethical marketing, and consider consumer interests, actively interacting with them through feedback.
Social responsibility is also reflected in innovations: developing products that address social issues, supporting startups and initiatives aimed at improving quality of life, are becoming important parts of their strategy.
Businesses focused on social responsibility build trust with clients and partners, enhance employee loyalty, attract investors interested in sustainable development, and establish a reputation as progressive companies. This is not just a trend, but a long-term approach that aligns the interests of business, society, and nature, creating a harmonious future.
At the forum “Social Responsibility and Social Entrepreneurship,” held on the second day of Civil Society Week, the director of the Center for Progressive Reforms, Mirshokhid Aslanov, spoke, highlighting existing challenges in this area:
- Last year, we managed to reduce the poverty level by 11%. However, there is still a lot of work ahead, and in this regard, entrepreneurs could support the government. We are currently studying the experiences of South Korea, Russia, Kazakhstan, and other countries in the field of social entrepreneurship. Many tasks need to be addressed. First, it is necessary to improve legislation related to this area and create incentives for social enterprises. Second, an association needs to be organized for the ongoing support of socially oriented entrepreneurship entities. There are organizations such as “Yordam berish oson,” “Imkoniyat,” and others that support socially vulnerable groups. However, we are not aware of all of them. If we can identify gaps in this area and resolve existing issues, we can achieve significant positive changes.
At the conclusion of the forum, recommendations were developed for fostering a culture of understanding socially responsible business, transitioning from social responsibility to social entrepreneurship, and preparing modern business managers.
The forum “Socially Responsible Business” facilitated discussions on initiatives and agreements aimed at developing sustainable and socially oriented entrepreneurship. Participants reached a consensus on the need to integrate social responsibility principles into business processes to address key social and environmental issues.