Experiences of developed market economies point that network for the purpose of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become one of crucial conditions for the successful integration of this advanced concept. By integration, companies provide a mutual support in CSR implementation, exchange information and experiences and acquire an opportunity for tuition and improvement. Networked companies also develop and carry out joint strategies in order to help certain sector of society or economy, establish stronger relationships with interested parties (stakeholders) and respond more successfully to more complicated social and economic challenges.
In less developed countries and transitional economies, establishing of such coalitions most frequently is the only institutional framework for CSR without which the strategic affirmation of CSR practice is unimaginable. Therefore, Business Leaders Forum Serbia (BLF) has been founded in Serbia at the initiative of SMart Kolektiv and several leading domestic and international companies. Companies - founders of BLF Serbia are: Radio Diffusion Company B92, Erste Bank a.d. Novi Sad, Holcim Srbija a.d., Société Générale Bank Srbija a.d., US Steel Serbia, Lafarge BFC, Coca-Cola Hellenic, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco, Henkel Merima, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Droga Kolinska, VIP mobile d.o.o and KPMG International.
Business Leaders Forums Serbia is the first coalition of socially responsible companies in Serbia established with a mission to stimulate development of corporate social responsibility and set a permanent and stable CSR practices in Serbian business sector.
The Forum will intend through informing, advising and developing various tools to affirm the concept of corporate social responsibility in as many companies in Serbia as possible. BLF will dispose of the unique resource center for CSR and provide consulting services and tuition in development and implementation of CSR strategies, evaluation of results and reporting and creation of specific CSR programs. BLF members will have an access to domestic and international conferences and similar events on this subject as well as a possibility of connecting with international and domestic companies-members of various CSR networks in the world.
As a place of contact among various social doers, the Forum need to provide a strategic approach to the implementation of socially responsible practices at the national level. By connecting leaders from the business sector with representatives of state institutions, non-profit organizations and other interested parties, the Forum will initiate a constructive inter-sector dialogue for the purpose of observing key social and economic problems and possible ways of their solution. On the other hand, along with its members the Forum will initiate and develop concrete projects and social responsibility programs, which will be directed at the solution of observed problems and it will gather all interested parties on such projects.
Business Leaders Forum Serbia is a part of Global Partners Network organization Business in the Community (BITC) and a partner of the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF).
