Read quotes from high-level speakers at the opening session of the 2nd Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct held on 26-27 June 2014 in Paris, France. Find out more: http://mneguidelines.oecd.org/globalforumonresponsiblebusinessconduct/

1. Quote book
2014 Global Forum on
Responsible Business Conduct

2. SG“As we have seen from recent
tragic examples of
irresponsible business conduct,
competing on the least
common denominator has
resulted in failure to provide
even the most basic safety
conditions for workers. This is
not an acceptable status quo.
Society’s expectations of
responsible business conduct
cannot be ignored.”
Angel Gurría
OECD Secretary-General

3. “We see a glimpse of a better
future here. To engage or not
to engage is one of the true
dilemmas for the business
community. But we now have a
starting point for solving this
dilemma: The OECD Guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises
on Responsible Business
Conduct and the UN Guiding
Principles on Business and
Human Rights…. They provide
the framework for new efforts
to improve corporate ethics.”
Lilianne Ploumen
Minister for Foreign Trade and
Development Cooperation
Netherlands

4. “The OECD’s Guidelines for Responsible
Business Conduct provide a framework
that companies around the world can use
to help manage how they operate in local
markets. At The Coca-Cola Company, we
have incorporated the ideals of the
Guidelines into both our Supplier Guiding
Principles and Sustainable Agriculture
Guiding Principles. Why? Because we
understand that the future strength and
vitality of our business will be directly
proportional to the strength and vitality
of the communities we proudly serve. By
acting responsibly across our own
business and collaborating with others to
address the key priorities of women,
water and wellbeing, we believe we have
a significant and growing opportunity to
create value not only for our shareowners
and business partners but for an ever-
expanding group of individuals, families
and communities.”
Muhtar Kent
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Coca-Cola Company

5. Howitt
“After the attention last
year to the fatal
Bangladesh factory
disaster, it's important
not only to focus on what
is fashionable - especially
with the grim irony that
abuses took place in the
fashion industry itself.”
Richard Howitt
European Parliament
Rapporteur on Corporate
Social Responsibility
European Union

6. “We need to move beyond
rhetoric. Consensus at a policy
level does not automatically
translate into successful
implementation on the
ground. For that we need
leaders from all sectors of
society who are ready to
champion responsible business
conduct and fair competition.”
Angel Gurría
OECD Secretary-General