Nestlé Forum discusses shared value creation in Indonesia

International experts discussed the challenge of closing inequality gaps in Indonesian society at a Creating Shared Value (CSV) Forum held by Nestlé in Jakarta.

More than 200 representatives from business, government, civil society and academia attended Nestlé Indonesia’s second CSV Forum, which focused on nutrition and rural development.

The Forum, part of a series organised by Nestlé in a selection of countries where it operates, encouraged the exchange of ideas on how the private and public sector can create social value through sustainable partnerships.

Frits van Dijk, Nestlé Executive Vice President and Zone Director for Asia, Oceania, Africa and Middle East attended the event, where he explained how Creating Shared Value is an intrinsic part of the Company’s business strategy.

He said: “We believe that for a company to be successful over time and create value for its shareholders, it must also create value along our value chain for all stakeholders, be they employees; suppliers such as dairy, coffee and cocoa farmers; the communities surrounding our locations; consumers, the government and society at large.

“Based on strong foundations of legal and regulatory compliance and sustainable business practices, this is our basic way of doing business.”

Mark R. Kramer, an internationally renowned Corporate Social Responsibility expert from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, in the United States, also took part.

He outlined why Creating Shared Value has become a compelling model for businesses to leverage their core activities and partnerships for the joint benefit of society and shareholders.

According to Mr Kramer, Nestlé is “one of the companies which understands the concept of CSV and has implemented it in a meaningful way that provides significant social value.”

At the Forum, Nestlé Indonesia also launched its CSV Report for 2010. Produced according to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines for sustainability reporting, the report tracks the Company’s positive impact on Indonesian society.

It highlights initiatives such as Nestlé’s Healthy Kids programme, which was rolled out in Indonesia in 2010.

Designed and implemented in collaboration with national health authorities, child nutrition experts, or education authorities and health experts, Nestlé’s Healthy Kids programme aims to raise the nutrition, health and wellness awareness of school age children around the world.

In Indonesia, the programme now reaches 31 elementary schools in 12 cities and involves more than 8,000 school children and 400 school teachers.