Sustainability reports: GRCB Emerging Markets, Pakistan and Botswana

Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Banking (GRCB) Emerging Markets Business Unit has published a 2008 sustainability report, outlining achievements in each of the 14 countries it comprises*.

“For Barclays, 2008 was a record year in terms of our investment in the community, despite severe global market dislocation,” says Vinit Chandra, Chief Executive, GRCB Emerging Markets. “This speaks of our commitment to community investment programmes and the priority that we give to them. Over half a million people benefited from our support. We did this by working with 150 local charities and NGOs who delivered these projects in deprived areas.

“Corporate sustainability for Barclays is much more than plain philanthropy,” Vinit adds. “We sincerely believe in improving the future of the people that we touch through these programmes, which in turn will sustain our business in the years to come.”

Barclays Pakistan and Botswana have also launched country-specific 2008 sustainabilityity reports. 

Pakistan's report, Providing Sustainable Solutions for our Community, highlights Barclays work with UNICEF in the country through the global Building Young Futures partnership, as well as a host of local initiatives. Supporting education was a key focus in 2008, with colleagues across the country volunteering their time and skills to refurbish classrooms, mentor pupils and open home schools for disadvantaged children in rural communities and urban slums.

“We realise that our success as an organisation is reflected not only in our financial performance but also in our aptitude to effectively address the sustained development issues of the community we operate in,” says Moshin Nathani, Managing Director, Barclays Pakistan.

Barclays Botswana launched its first sustainability report, outlining its achievements over the past year as a responsible global citizen. The report focuses on its committment to financial inclusion and education, community investment and sustainable partnerships.

*Barclays GRCB includes operations in: Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Pakistan, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe