China Daily_Addax wins kudos for social responsibility

Tue, May 28, 2013

Addaxwins kudos for social responsibility

Updated: 2013-05-25 10:23

By Fu Jing in Geneva ( China Daily)

Addax Petroleum, the biggest overseas subsidiary of China's oilgiant Sinopec Group, is determined to fulfill its socialresponsibilities in Africa, China and other developing countries as it expandsits business.

The Permanent Mission of China to the UN Office in Geneva hashailed the company for its successful projects in education, health and the environment in Africa and China, which it said hasset an excellent example for Chinese companies investing overseas.

Zhang Yi, CEO of Addax Petroleum, a former Geneva-based company that wassold to Sinopec in 2009 for $7.6 billion said: "We have treated thefulfilling of our social responsibility as part of our softcompetitiveness.

"Any company without this kind of vision will not earnrespect on a global stage."

Zhang said the company has invested $1 million and registered acharity, Sinopec-Addax Petroleum Foundation, in Geneva, and up to 20 charitableprojects involved in education, health and environment have been created ineight countries as a result.

As chairman of the foundation, Zhang said its mission is toempower poor communities in rural and remote areas by reinforcing theircapacities and helping them reach self-sufficiency.

For example, in Uganda the foundation has helped one localcommunity, 9 km from Fort Portal in the west of the country, to build atraining center for beekeeping.

In Sierra Leone, the foundation has focused on training local peopleon organic farming methods and nutritional and dietary issues that can beincorporated into agricultural projects.

And in Ghana, the foundation has supported the reconstruction of an orphanage.

"We have been building our expertise since we created thefoundation, but we need to foster positive change, and maintain an opendialogue with our partners to successfully eradicate poverty and disease inthese communities," said Zhang.

The foundation held a forum on Thursday to build effectivepartnerships between NGOs, the public and the private sector.

China Daily was involved as a media partner.

Marie-Gabrielle Cajoly, executive director of the foundation,said it aims to involve more partners in its activities to bring more hope tounderprivileged people in Africa, but also the Middle East, China and otherregions.

"Doing charitable work is an essential part of the culture at Addax Petroleum, which is all about diversity, opennessand caring," said Cajoly.

Wu Haitao, charge d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of thePeople's Republic of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said Chinahas made impressive progress in anti-poverty efforts, and fully supporting theUN's Millennium Development Goals of halving poverty by 2015.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2013-05/25/content_16531417.htm