By Ahmad Al-Rabiei
SALALAH, Oman, Dec 20 (KUNA) -- Chairman of the International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO), and Amiri Diwan Advisor Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq has commended the Kuwaiti people's rush to help brothers in Syria's Aleppo.
This praise came at the sideline of the 2016 Oman International Conference on Social Responsibility that started in Salalah on Tuesday. Al-Maatouq was honored during the event attended by Omani, Gulf, and Arab social responsibility figures.
Speaking to KUNA after receiving the award, Al-Maatouq urged businessmen to assume their social and humanitarian responsibility amid the repercussions of the conflicts and disasters sweeping the region.
He highly appreciated Oman's hosting of the conference that has brought together a multitude of Gulf, Arab, and international figures and institutions specialized in social service and responsibility and sustainable development.
Expanding the concept of social responsibility is significant progress for enhancing the role of the private sector to counter humanitarian, social and environment problems worldwide, he said.
According to the IICO chief, Islam laid down the basis of social responsibility more than 1,400 years ago.
He voiced thanks to Sheikha Aisha bint Khalfan Al Siyabiyah, chairperson of the Public Authority for Craft Industries and International Ambassador for Social Responsibility, and honorary sponsor of the Salalah conference.
Today's event is organized by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry branch in Dhofar, in cooperation with the Regional Network for the Social Responsibility (RNSR) and International Ambassadors Program for Social Responsibility.
Chairman of the Omani Special Olympics Faisal bin Turki Al-Said handed over the award to the Kuwaiti Amiri Diwan Advisor.
Addressing the ceremony, Al-Maatouq thanked the board of trustees of the award, headed by Professor Youssef Abdul-Ghaffar.
He expressed deep pleasure for the award that came in recognition of Kuwait's charity and humanitarian initiatives and efforts.
In light of the human disasters in various parts of the world, Al-Maatouq called for further and closer cooperation to end the suffering of millions of people worldwide.
The conference aims to develop effective partnership between the private sector and the civil society organizations, and shedding more light on the importance of social responsibility. It also seeks to encourage the private sector firms to contribute to social projects as well as to the efforts to realize the goals of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. (end) ahr.msa