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Archive of news for 2010 | | ...January
February
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| | February , 05 2010 |
| Microcredit Company “Mol Bulak Finance” and the UNDP Environment Protection for Sustainable Development Programme signed a memorandum of cooperation to improve the social and environmental responsibility |
The development of corporate social responsibility slowly but surely moves forward. Social responsibility is more than just timely allocation of taxes to the budget, enforcement of laws and decent wages. For Mol Bulak Finance social responsibility is a voluntary and purposefully taken commitment to contribute to the improvement of the lives of people, society and country. The company aims to participate in a public life of the regions, to consider the interests of the employees, interact with various community organizations; makes all possible efforts to reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as does everything possible to attract partners and customers to equally responsible attitude to environmental protection.
Realizing the need for additional knowledge in the field of ecology and environmental protection, an agreement has been reached with the UNDP Environment Protection for Sustainable Development Programme to conduct thematic trainings for Mol Bulak Finance employees.
UNDP Environment Protection for Sustainable Development Programme attaches great importance to the cooperation with the private sector, and considers access to financial capital as one of the major barriers to the implementation of environmentally-oriented activities on the local level.
 The purpose of the training is to increase the potential of staff in the field of social and environmental responsibility using the elements of strategic environmental assessment in the process of disbursement of the loans, as well as practical acquaintance with the methodological features of the environmental risk assessment. Trainers will not only improve the awareness of staff on the basic environmental standards, but will also help loan officers to more accurately assess the client's business in terms of safety for the environment. Trainings take place from January 23 to February 7 in various cities in Chui, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Osh and Jalal-Abad regions of the Kyrgyz Republic, covering more than 200 professionals. The first trainings were held at the company’s head office, involving staff from Bishkek and Kant branches, and in the southern region - in the Osh and Jalalabad branches.
Right before the beginning of the training a logical warming was carried out, where participants were asked to draw the most stable, in their view, geometric shape, and discuss it in teams.
 The theoretical part of the training addressed issues of strategic environmental assessment, sustainable development for business practices and environmental check-list.
During the practical work, participants discussed the questions of the use of local natural resources in order to promote business ideas and receive a loan for it, and examined the negative impact of business practices on the environment and human health.
The participants of the training were asked to develop their own business plan and assess it from an environmental point of view. Group work on completing of the environmental check sheet was the most productive. One of the participants shares her feelings: “While developing our own business plan, we had to analyze many moments of which we previously have not even thought, the use of SWOT analysis really helps. Now it will be much easier to work with clients, and I can share my knowledge with them”.
Four potential business plans were considered:
 Construction of the public bathhouse
Provision of catering services
Crop production
Auto service center
During the practical part of the training, participants got acquainted with the use of innovative environmental and social technologies (processing and sorting of household waste, recycling and disposal of industrial products after use, reuse of products).
Social and environmental assessment of business was carried out on the basis of 5-capitals (financial, social, human, ecological, and physical). If the client’s business does not fully conform to environmental standards, loan officers can advise clients on all matters of mutual interest, and together come up with the most profitable and environmentally safe method of doing business. As one of the loan officers says: “If we turn to a borrower who wants to build a cafe in the Issyk-Kul region, our loan officers are now able to advise the use of any alternative source of energy”.
 Mol Bulak Finance considers one of its main goals - fostering the sustainable development of society, avoiding contamination and undesirable effects on the environment. Such approach contributes to the fact that socially responsible borrowers will have a more sensible approach to business, ultimately improving the system of environmental, economic and social indicators. Responsible borrowers will certainly have a positive impact on the ecological situation in Kyrgyzstan.
As one of the coaches Svetlana Bortsova noted: “First of all, it is necessary to identify and examine the nature and extent of the environmental impact of proposed activity and environmental risks in project implementation, as well as to ensure that the work undertaken have not led to an increase in environmental hazard to the rest of the population”.
All of the company’s actions, aimed at providing financial services to clients, are directly related to the execution of the social responsibility, namely, providing a positive social impact in relation to clients, society, environment and personnel. Thus, the awareness of the public will definitely be increased regarding the basic principles of conducting business and sustainable development as a synergy of economic, environmental and social aspects. |
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| | February , 02 2010 | |
Appointment of new Chief Financial Officer |
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