UN Global Compact Bulgaria selects first-ever SDG pioneer
UN Global Compact Bulgaria selects first-ever SDG pioneer
Dimitar Tsotsorkov won first place in the challenging competition
15 March 2022, Sofia, Bulgaria
15 March 2022 will stay in the history of the United Nations Global Compact Network Bulgaria with the first SDG Pioneers awards. Dimitar Tsotsorkov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Asarel-Medet, is the winner of the SDG Pioneer Prize and will represent the country in the global round of the competition, which will take place during the UN Global Compact summit in June. Gergana Manolova from Unicredit Bulbank came in second, and Katerina Kirova from Zagorka and Nevena Dimitrova from ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 were awarded third prize.
„Assarel-Medet is an example of how a company can radically change the appearance of a city,“ said Ognian Trajanov, Chair of the UN Global Compact Network Bulgaria at the award ceremony. „In the core of each individual’s fulfillment is to create and fight for a better world. And it is an honor for him to even make a small change. When he is part of a shared vision and guidelines for action, as embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals, he feels more confident, achieves more and becomes more impactful. Due to the pandemic, the war will delay the achievement of the Goals, but none of us will abandon or forget them. On the contrary, realizing with renewed strength their relevance, their comprehensiveness, we will work even more motivated to accomplish them.“
„I accept this award not as my own, but as a recognition for the entire Asarel-Medet team, for the Asarel and Lachezar Tsotsorkov foundations, and last but not least for my father, Prof. Dr. Lachezar Tsotsorkov“, Dimitar Tsotsorkov said. „The last two years have reminded us how priceless words like peace and health are to us. Today it is more important than ever to be united by shared values, to remain compassionate, humane, sensitive to the pain of others, wise and empathetic. I wish peace and love to all and hope that this insane war will end soon,“ he added.
The first SDG Pioneers Bulgaria competition included leaders from companies working to achieve the SDGs: Assarel-Medet, Zagorka Heineken, Investor Media Group, Coca Cola HBC Bulgaria, Kaufland Bulgaria, ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3, Nestle Bulgaria, Unicredit Bulbank, Postbank. Nominations for the awards were evaluated according to a regulation set by the UN Global Compact, and the ranking was determined by a jury composed of:
- OgnyanTrayanov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Network and the jury
- Krassimira Velichkova, Bulgarian Donors Forum
- Elitsa Barakova, BCause foundation
- Michail Okoliyski, Phd, WHO Bulgaria
- Grigorii Vazov, VUZF University
- Rumen Donev, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
The presentation of the awards became another occasion for the companies of the UN Global Compact and the Bulgarian Network to emphasize their unifying principles, which are even more relevant today. The participants joined a conversation about human empathy, the social role of business and its will to act and find solutions, especially in difficult times. Antonio Hautle, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland, spoke about ethics in times of peace and war.
A special gift for the guests was a conversation between the host of the event, Donika Rizova, and journalist Georgi Toshev, about the values that unite us and the principles that guide us. The conversation included stories that change us for the better and the importance of rethinking our past and present as well as the threat of hybrid wars and misinformation. At the end, the audience united around the word for 2022 – “HOPE”.
SDG Pioneers Bulgaria brought together representatives of responsible business to celebrate the inspiring actions of leading companies and their people who showcase that one person’s efforts matter, and when supported by the power of business, they can change the present and the future.
About the United Nations Global Compact
As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 15,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 69 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative — one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.
For more information, visit: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/.
About the UN Global Compact Network Bulgaria
The local network unites the participants of the Global Compact in Bulgaria in collective initiatives towards with positive societal and business impact, proving that the business is a force for good.
www.unglobalcompact.bg
About the SDG Pioneers
Every year the UN Global Compact recognizes the pioneers of the Sustainable Development Goals – these professionals working at any level of a UN Global Compact, who are leveraging a principles-based approach to accomplish the 17 Global Goals, known as SDGs. These visionary leaders give impetus to the interest toward the Global Goals and toward the creative means of their implementation by the business. In 2022 the UN Global Compact will again prize those persons who set ambitious goals and impact their companies and societies in order to make a sustainable future for all.
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