The Third Arab Conference on Social Responsibility was held at the headquarters of the Union of Arab Chambers, in the "Adnan Kassar Edifice for Arab Economy", along with the launch of the Arab Social Responsibility Index, on July 22, 2025. The event was attended by Her Excellency Hanine El Sayed, Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Lebanon; Lebanese Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Al-Bsat, represented by Director General of the Ministry of Economy Dr. Mohammad Abou Haidar; Dr. Tarek Al Nabulsi, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs at the League of Arab States; Tawfiq Dabboussi, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli and the North; His Excellency Mr. Osama Bin Saleh Al-Alawi, Minister of Social Development in the Kingdom of Bahrain; Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO-Bahrain), in addition to a large group of participants from Lebanon and the Arab world.

Khaled Hanafy

In the opening session, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafy, emphasized that "the convening of the conference this year aligns with unprecedented economic and social transformations, and crowns a journey of cooperation and integration between the private sector, civil society, and governments." He stressed that "Beirut is the capital of economy and business and will remain a source of launching initiatives that care for and focus on human development."
He pointed out that "we have today moved from a concept of social responsibility based on charity to a dynamic concept based on mutual interests. Hence the Union of Arab Chambers, as the true representative of the Arab private sector, has shown great interest in social responsibility, expanding its cooperation with strategic partners. Today we are launching the Arab Social Responsibility Index, which is a key indicator to enhance the role of corporate and private sector responsibility."

He stated that "the Arab private sector has realized that societal stability requires enhancing the reality of development, as addressing the challenges resulting from poverty and unemployment can create a dynamic, influential, and pioneering society among others."

Dr. Khaled Hanafy noted that "in today's world, companies are no longer measured solely by their profits but by their commitment to their communities and environment. Social responsibility has become one of the pillars of sustainability and a key lever for equitable and inclusive development. We at the Union of Arab Chambers believe that the Arab private sector is not merely an economic engine but a partner in building the future, through youth empowerment, strengthening social justice, and promoting transparency and good governance."

He added that "we were keen, in this conference organized in partnership with HOPE MCF, the League of Arab States, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – Bahrain, to present quality initiatives, foremost of which is the launch of the Arab Social Responsibility Index. This is a pioneering step toward unifying standards and raising the level of commitment to more transparent, fair, and sustainable practices. The Index is a strategic compass aiming to make a tangible difference and a mirror that reflects the extent of companies' commitment to ethical, environmental, and social values. It is based on a vast database and field surveys that enabled us to build a scientific and practical guide to help institutions design their policies within clear and realistic frameworks."

The Secretary-General stated that our experience with the "Sociality" platform, launched in 2022, is clear proof of the importance of digital and methodological tools in developing social responsibility. Through this conference, we aspire to expand partnerships and build cooperation platforms among all actors for a more just and sustainable Arab society.

He concluded by saying, "Social responsibility is not a luxury or moral indulgence—it is a cornerstone of our economic, social, and political stability. It is a shared responsibility among institutions, companies, civil society, and governments."

Hanine El Sayed

For her part, the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Lebanon, Hanine El Sayed, affirmed that "social responsibility is no longer a complementary concept but has become one of the pillars of integrated development. The private sector has always been a fundamental pillar of economic growth. Today, there is a growing opportunity to play a pivotal role in achieving dual returns (developmental and economic) through social responsibility initiatives that benefit society while also enhancing the institution's image, the sustainability of its operations, and its connection with its surroundings. That is why the Ministry of Social Affairs in Lebanon places integration with the private sector at the heart of its priorities, especially within its new strategy that focuses on three central priorities: social assistance, care and social services, and economic inclusion. In the context of economic inclusion, the ministry is working on activating pathways that open new horizons for individuals—especially youth and women—to integrate into the labor market, either through wage employment opportunities or through self-employment and small projects."

She noted that "the private sector plays a key role whether in providing jobs, training, or affordable financing through microfinance institutions. In this regard, the Ministry of Social Affairs has recently begun working with the private sector in Lebanon to enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labor market. We welcome expanding this initiative and cooperating with the Union of Arab Chambers."

She expressed her full support for the launch of the Arab Social Responsibility Index, "which is considered a promising step toward strengthening public-private partnerships and establishing tangible frameworks for joint development cooperation. This Index not only helps measure the extent of companies' commitment to their communities, but also serves as a tool to promote integration among various actors in our Arab societies in addressing poverty, unemployment, and marginalization."

Mohammad Abou Haidar

Dr. Mohammad Abou Haidar, Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Lebanon, delivered a speech on behalf of His Excellency Dr. Amer Al-Bsat, Minister of Economy and Trade. He said, "Today, I stand before you in Beirut, the capital of the Arabs, Beirut that has always been a meeting place for ideas, a beacon of culture, and a bridge of communication among peoples. And here it is today reclaiming its role as a city of dialogue, openness, and opportunity—despite all the challenges we are facing."

He explained that "the Third Conference on Social Responsibility in the Arab World confirms that the future of our region can only be built through the integration of roles between governments, the private sector, and civil society, with a collective responsibility toward our peoples and nations. This conference comes not only at a critical time for our region but during a pivotal phase for Lebanon in particular—Lebanon, which has chosen, under the leadership of His Excellency President General Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam, to take the path of reform and recovery—a path of serious work, structural reforms, and openness to our natural Arab depth."

He noted that "Lebanese-Arab relations are not born of today but are deep-rooted historical ties based on brotherhood and mutual support, with a firm belief that Lebanon’s strength stems from the strength of its Arab surroundings, and that our region's prosperity cannot be complete without a strong, open, and active Lebanon. Lebanon has always been a destination for our Arab brothers—for tourism, investment, education, and culture—and Beirut in particular has always been a capital for all Arabs. That is why I say to you, from the heart: we await you eagerly in your city, Beirut. We await your investments, your support, your presence—which has always been an economic and social boost to this country and a foundation for building genuine Arab partnerships."

He stressed that "social responsibility is no longer a luxurious option, but rather an economic and moral necessity. It constitutes one of the core pillars in building more just and sustainable societies. At the Ministry of Economy and Trade, we deeply believe in the importance of active partnerships between the public and private sectors, and we call on all institutions of various sizes and sectors to assume their responsibilities toward society by investing in people, empowering women, supporting the most vulnerable groups, and contributing to job creation and economic growth."

He said that "Lebanon today stands before a real opportunity to regain its economic standing and expand its economy by attracting Arab and international investments. This can only be achieved through the completion of the reform path, which we are pursuing seriously with the International Monetary Fund, in cooperation with the honorable Parliament, to pass necessary laws, foremost among them the Banking Sector Restructuring Law, to ensure financial stability and restore confidence in the Lebanese economy. In this context, we at the Ministry of Economy and Trade are working on automating the ministry, launching digital transformation, simplifying procedures, and making life easier for citizens and investors—parallel to close cooperation with other ministries within a unified vision to improve the business environment, strengthen the Lebanese economy, and put it back on the map of Arab and international investments."

He noted that "the launch of the Arab Social Responsibility Index today constitutes an important step toward establishing a culture of community commitment within our economic institutions and measuring its impact on development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and standards of good governance. It is an open call for all institutions to play an active role in facing economic and social challenges and serving their communities. On this occasion, I announce that in the last quarter of this year, we will hold a major Arab Economic Conference in Beirut, where we will place these themes on the table for discussion: reform, investments, Arab partnerships, and economic integration—so that Beirut, as always, remains a meeting ground and a launching platform for a brighter and more integrated Arab economic future."

Nadia Cheaib

Dr. Nadia Cheaib, President and Founder of the "Clean Group" (Klingroup), announced the official launch of the Arab Social Responsibility Index via the Sociality digital platform, during the Third Arab Conference on Social Responsibility in Beirut, in the presence of ministers and representatives from Arab and international organizations. She explained that "the Index is the result of work that began in 2023, in partnership with the League of Arab States – Department of Social and Economic Development, the Union of Arab Chambers, with support from the Arab Network for Social Responsibility and the UNIDO organization."

She said, "The Index was developed based on a scientific evaluation involving experts from Lebanon, Egypt, France, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with the use of digital transformation tools and artificial intelligence. The Index allows for the evaluation of the performance of public and private institutions and associations in terms of their commitment to the principles of social responsibility, within four core pillars: governance and sound management, transparency and integrity, social and environmental impact, and relationships with the community and employees."

Dr. Nadia Cheaib, President of the Cheaib Foundation and founder of the Sociality platform, confirmed that the aim of this Index is to provide a reliable scientific evaluation tool based on objective standards that contributes to organizing social action efforts in the region and helps measure actual performance—away from promotional campaigns or personal estimates.

She added: "We are working on establishing professional foundations for social responsibility, so that entities and institutions can develop their performance based on clear results and digital data. We do not evaluate intentions—we evaluate actions and outcomes, and that is what the region needs in light of increasing challenges."

She also stressed the importance of using technology and artificial intelligence to present accurate and user-friendly indicators for different stakeholders, noting that the platform opens the door to all—governments, companies, associations—to obtain a neutral evaluation, which can be used to improve policies and practices. She concluded by saying: "This Index is a tool to protect resources from waste, to enhance people's trust in institutions, and to redefine community work on professional foundations upon which partnerships and support can be built."

Tarek Al Nabulsi

In the context of key Arab initiatives targeting groups in most need of social protection, Dr. Tarek Al Nabulsi expressed his happiness at the launch of the Arab Social Responsibility Index, extending his thanks to Dr. Nadia Cheaib and her team for their initiative, carried out in cooperation with the Union of Arab Chambers. He noted that the idea of launching this Index stemmed from the important intervention by His Excellency Dr. Khaled Hanafy during the high-level session we organized as part of Expo – People of Determination (Dubai 2022). From this important platform, I hereby declare that we, as the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, have adopted this Index. We will coordinate with the Union of Arab Chambers to present it to the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs for its endorsement by the Council, as the body concerned within the Arab League system—providing additional political backing for the implementation of this Index in line with the desired goals.

These initiatives, through our conference today and the distinguished lineup of speakers and important participants, will support the direction of Arab summits and the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs in achieving sustainable social development. I must also highlight the important role of media in promoting youth support, community entrepreneurship, and spreading the culture of social responsibility. I also reaffirm the media's role in promoting the full inclusion of our people with disabilities and those most in need of protection, thereby affirming the principle of "leaving no one behind in the development process."

This exceptional Arab event affirms the effective partnership between decision-makers, the private sector, and civil society organizations as partners in advancing the path of social development and achieving the best interests of the Arab citizen.

Also Speaking in the Opening Session:

His Excellency Osama Bin Saleh Al-Alawi, Minister of Social Development in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Head of the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO-Bahrain), also delivered remarks during the opening session.

Four Working Sessions Were Held as Part of the Conference:

The first session was titled: “The Leading Role of the Arab Private Sector in Community Development: Success Stories and Models.” The second session presented a detailed overview of the Arab Social Responsibility Index. The third session was titled: “Social Responsibility Amid Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges.” The fourth session was titled: “Youth and Community Entrepreneurship in the Arab World and the Role of Media in Promoting the Culture of Social Responsibility.”