The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed Mr B Muthuraman, MD, Tata Steel along with a group of 19 business, labour and civil society leaders from around the world to serve on the Board of the UN Global Compact. Mr Muthuraman is the only person form the Indian sub-continent to represent the business group. With more than 2,500 participating companies in over 90 countries, it is the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative. The appointees have been selected on the basis of commitment to the Global Compact’s mission and principles and the support of a regional or constituency group. Board members will act as champions of the initiative.

The Board will help ensure the Global Compact’s continuity and facilitates further growth. It will provide strategic advice for the initiative as a whole and make recommendations to the UN Global Compact Office.

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact brings business together with UN agencies, labour, civil society and governments to advance universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption. The Global Compact seeks to make private sector a part of the solution to the challenges of globalisation. In this way, the private sector – in partnership with other social actors – can help realise the goal of a more sustainable and global economy.

Tata Steel is a founder member of the Global Compact. It has also been conferred the prestigious Global Compact Business Coalition Award for Business Excellence in the Community in recognition of its pioneering workin the field of HIV/AIDS awareness. The city of Jamshedpur is one among sixteen the world to be chosen to participate in the UN Global Compact Cities Pilot Programme.