Responsible Business Conduct Budapest Conference, 27 January 2020
The OECD Hungarian National Contact Point organised a conference on the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct on 27th January 2020.
Responsible business conduct contributes to competitiveness
Mr. Gábor Gion, State Secretary for Financial Policy Affairs, in his welcome address, emphasised that responsible business conduct is beneficial also for the companies. Ethical behaviour is attractive for consumers, therefore it can be considered as a competitiveness factor.
Mr. Gion underlined: as a result of social and environmental problems the role of companies, which do not adopt measures aiming responsible business conduct and value creation, and only take into consideration their profit, has acquired a new significance.
Responsible companies are contributing to sustainable economic and social development and they are doing this voluntary, because they believe that responsible behaviour is beneficial – added the state secretary. Gábor Gion emphasised that responsible business conduct is particularly important for financial institutions.
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (1976) are non-judicial tools regarding responsible business conduct to encourage the adoption of ethical norms. The Guidelines reflect the expectations from governments to businesses on responsible business conduct. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recommendations addressed by adherent governments – 36 OECD member countries and 13 further adherent countries - to multinational enterprises operating in or from adhering countries. In Hungary the OECD Hungarian National Contact Point operating in the Ministry of Finance is taking an active role in order to achieve these goals, as proven by today’s conference also.
In the presence of almost 100 participants the welcome address of the conference was given by Mr. Gábor Gion, State Secretary for Financial Policy Affairs and the opening address was delivered by Ms. Christine Kaufmann, Chair of the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct.
During the day speeches were given by Mr. Sándor Bodó, State Secretary for Employment Policy and Mr. László Balogh, Chair of the OECD Hungarian National Contact Point, Deputy State Secretary for Financial Policy Affairs.