European companies eager to incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in their business practices, will have a highly qualified partner to rely on: their local Chamber of Commerce.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise was one of the Chambers from 21 countries that participated at an intensive training course held in Lisbon by Eurochambres - The European Association of Chambers of Commerce & Industry - for CSR trainers to develop their capacity to support SMEs on their mission to implement CSR in their operations.

The initiative is part of Eurochambres' CAESAR Programme, which aims at making Chambers of Commerce skilled CSR relay points for companies.

Pierre Simon, president of Eurochambres, said: “This training is a precious opportunity for Chambers to develop and share know-how, best practices, ideas and tools on Corporate Social Responsibility. Thanks to the large geographical spread of the participants, an optimal multiplier effect is ensured: CSR knowledge will flow from the Chamber advisors to the entire Eurochambres Network, and finally to their member companies, who will be able to take advantage of CSR as an additional competitive advantage.”

The Chamber's national affairs executive Andrè Fenech, who attended the training, said that it is very important for local firms to understand the value and the role which CSR can play in their way of doing business.

“Our role as a Chamber will be that of analysing the particular needs of a number of companies and to assist them in formulating a proper CSR policy which they will eventually put into practice,” he concluded.

Last year, Eurochambres organised a vast pan European CSR awareness raising campaign in cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry and other business organisations. Through 65 events, European Chambers informed SMEs about business cases, positive experiences, impacts and benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise already organized one of these events in October 2004.