(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Nov 19 (KNN) The Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) concluded the 12th edition of its annual 'India and Sustainability Standards (ISS)' summit, held on November 12–14 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The three-day summit convened over 1,000 participants, more than 150 speakers, and representatives from over 60 partner organisations, including industry, government, multilateral agencies, civil society, academia, and grassroots groups.

Organised under the theme 'Enhancing Competitiveness and Positive Impacts through Responsible Business', the summit fostered wide-ranging discussions on integrating sustainability into business strategy as a driver of long-term competitiveness, resilience, and stakeholder confidence.

The summit opened with the release of CRB Strategy 2030, a strategic roadmap outlining the organisation's priorities for advancing responsible business conduct in India over the next five years.

Drawing on more than a decade of multi-stakeholder engagement, the framework positions CRB as a facilitator of systemic shifts in business practices.

A new CRB Youth Champions Initiative was also launched, involving school students from Delhi. Participants presented their perspectives on reimagining sustainability as a responsibility-driven approach to living and working, emphasising resource-conscious behaviour and early mindset shifts.

A central message emerging from the high-level sessions was the need for business model transformation-moving from short-term profit maximisation toward long-term value creation and risk mitigation.

Speakers stressed that sustainability is an ongoing journey of continuous improvement rather than an end-state of perfection.

Delegates underscored the importance of non-financial reporting, noting that frameworks such as India's Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) are reshaping corporate governance norms.

Panellists urged companies to elevate sustainability metrics to board-level scrutiny to strengthen accountability.

Another dominant theme was the shift from shareholder-focused approaches to stakeholder-inclusive strategies, bolstered in India by the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC).

Participants observed that companies aligning with such principles are better positioned within global supply chains and evolving market expectations.

Several speakers also drew attention to the link between inclusive business practices and public resource optimisation. By supporting the socio-economic advancement of vulnerable communities, businesses can reduce pressure on welfare systems and contribute to long-term developmental gains.

Across 30 sessions over three days, experts examined issues spanning deforestation-free supply chains, sustainable textiles, regenerative agriculture, inclusive growth, trade, public sector enterprise preparedness, sustainable consumption, and value chain transformation.

Newer areas of focus included AI and sustainability, heat stress and worker wellbeing, and pathways to a low-carbon economy.

Tamil Nadu Labour Secretary Thiru K. Veera Raghava Rao highlighted,“Solutions need to be contextual to the workspace. Construction workers require breaks during long hours in the heat, while factory workers should have access to hydration and cooling facilities. We can also consider health screening and insurance schemes for those who lose working days due to heat.”

The summit also featured speakers from around the world who emphasised the importance of South–South collaboration.

The discussions collectively underscored that responsible business conduct is no longer peripheral but central to building resilient enterprises and a future-ready economy.

(KNN Bureau)

MENAFN19112025000155011030ID1110368893