#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. At the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the winners of the first national award Leaders of Responsible Business were awarded – it was established on Vladimir Putin’s initiative.
The organizing committee included heads of government bodies, business, and public structures. The purpose of the award is to promote the development of responsible business practices, increase the information openness of business, and recognize the companies’ contribution to social development.
“Only a business that cares about its employees and work teams, helps them improve their professionalism, pays decent wages, and provides a social package, can guarantee success and development for years to come, because it understands: the well-being of citizens and their families, the future of the country, and for specific enterprises – returns and positive economic output – depends on this”, noted Vladimir Putin, speaking at the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.
The state’s head emphasized that the responsibility of business, its strategic view, also consists of working for the public good, when corporate policy includes projects in the field of education, healthcare, infrastructure, charity, and the environmental well-being of the territories where it operates.
44 companies applied to participate in the 2024 award; they were assessed in three stages. The finalists based on the total points included 14 companies that became laureates of the I, II and III degrees. The Nornickel company is a 1st degree laureate.
Candidates were assessed on economic, environmental and social indicators, and their contribution to solving socially significant problems was also taken into account using the example of specific corporate programs.
Up to three programs in different areas could be included in applications for the award. Nornickel presented the following ones:
– in the category For Contribution to the Sustainable Development of Territories – the program of socio-economic development of the municipal formation City of Norilsk until 2035;
– in the category For Contribution to Solving Strategic Environmental and Climate-Related Problems – strategy in the field of ecology and climate change (2021–2030);
– in the category For Contribution to Solving Strategic Problems of Human Potential Development – the program Present for the Future: Developing Engineering Potential.
All three programs presented by Nornickel were highly appreciated by the jury.
The awards were presented to the winners by deputy prime minister Tatyana Golikova, first deputy chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov, minister of economic development of the Russian Federation Maxim Reshetnikov and chairman of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia Mikhail Shmakov.
On behalf of the company, the award was received by Nornickel senior vice president Larisa Zelkova.
“At Nornickel we consider socially sustainable development to be part of the company’s DNA. That is why the largest environmental project in Russia, the Sulfur Program, is being implemented in Norilsk, the city is being actively renovated, and many other social initiatives are underway. I hope that everything we manage to do in the next ten years will influence the standards of sustainable development in our country and provide good guidance for everyone who wants to follow our example. Many thanks to everyone who highly appreciated our efforts in the field of sustainable development and responsible business practices”, said Larisa Zelkova.
Earlier, Nornickel top managers talked with employees live and answered the most pressing questions; the company continues the program for the development of Taimyr villages.
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Text: Angelika Stepanova
