The conference "Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy" with 160 participants from 38 countries in the conference centre of Initiatives of Change in Caux came to an end today.

Rajeev Dubey: (Photo: Hélène Bielak)Rajeev Dubey, President and member of the Group Management Board of the Indian industrial giant Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. gave a ‘Caux Lecture’ on ‘Transforming Capitalism with Trust and Integrity’ in the Initiatives of Change centre in Switzerland, at the close of a conference that brought together over 160 entrepreneurs, farmers, health and media professionals, academics and students from 38 countries. Dubey spoke about the Mahindra group – which has 108,000 employees in 47 countries – and its policy of ‘employee social options’ through which employees are encouraged to put time and effort into educational, environmental and public health programmes in the communities where they work. So far, 25,000 workers have given their time. ‘We dare to dream that we can make a positive difference to the communities and nations we live and operate in,’ Dubey said. The firm, he said, was determined to work in a spirit of ‘satya’ ‘prem’ and ‘seva’ – Truth, Compassion and Service.

The ‘trust and integrity in the global economy’ conference had four ‘work streams’, on business and the lessons to be learned from the current crisis; a workshop led by a team of young professionals; the role of the media in helping to ‘rebuild a global economy that is trustworthy, honest and inspiring’ with media professionals including those involved in the International Communications Forum; and ‘Food, health and sustainability’, led by the Food and Sustainability Network.

Jean-Pierre Méan, Vice-President of Transparency International, Switzerland, and Chief Compliance Officer, Group Legal Counsel of SGS SA, Geneva, between 1996 and 2008, led one daily workshop ‘stream’ on the theme of ‘Reshaping business around core values’, with senior business leaders who are ‘passionate to reshape business’. Following the global economic crisis, ‘business can no longer patch up the old systems we have been working with,’ the conference programme stated. ‘We need to take bold steps towards transformation. This is a rare opportunity to bring fundamental change.’

Panel on the "Fair Trade Day"

A number of Swiss activists took part in a day on fair trade. Lavinia Sommaruga Bodeo, Switzerland, who works for Alliance Sud, (a Swiss Alliance of Development Organisations) and is responsible in the Italian part of Switzerland for development policy called for ‘a dynamic of solidarity and not of exclusion’. ‘Fair trade consists of a new ethic based on principles of trust, solidarity and sharing,’ she said, stressing the need for ‘a globalisation of responsibilities between North and South of the planet, a democratic bottom up globalisation’ rooted in local histories and conditions.

Also taking part was Olivier Martin, an agronomist, working for the Protestant churches ‘Département Missionaire échange et mission’ in Lausanne, who is the Executive Secretary for relations with Central Africa; Martina Schmidt, who is secretary of the French office of the Swiss Protestant churches’ development agency; Catherine Morand, member of the board and head of Swissaid for the French-speaking part of Switzerland; Gladys Corredor, coordinator and facilitator for Magasins du Monde in the Geneva/Vaud/Fribourg region, a network of fair trade shops; Gertraud Wachmann, of the Swiss Economy of Communion Commission, a project inspired by Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, and Nicolas Reynaud who is engaged in promoting ‘Progressive Brotherhood’.

Click here for further information about the International Caux Conferences 2009