Citi Vietnam has been recognized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi (AmCham) at its eighth annual AmCham CSR Recognition Awards, which honors the best corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of members in Vietnam.

The award was bestowed upon Citi and 27 other companies at a ceremony presided over by American Ambassador H.E. Marc E. Knapper, for understanding the links between business operations and society and conducting business in a way that creates both long-term economic and social value in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, AmCham Chair John Rockhold explained that CSR is no longer defined by how much money a company contributes to charity, but by its overall involvement in activities that improve the quality of people’s lives in the communities they serve.

“At Citi, our CSR agenda reflects our role and responsibility as a global bank to help solve many of society’s tough challenges,” said Mr. Ramachandran A.S., Vietnam Citi Country Officer. “It’s a part of our business model, and embedded in the products and services we offer.”

In 2022, as part of the Citi Vietnam Community Week, it organized tree planting events and blood donation drives in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Hundreds of Citi volunteers joined a tree-planting campaign at the Nam Cat Tien National Park in southern Dong Nai province and at the Phu Ninh Primary School in northern Phu Tho province, together planting more than 1,500 trees. The program was organized in support of the Vietnamese Government’s ambition of growing 1 billion trees over the next five years, and also reflects Citi’s focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.

Commenting on the many CSR programs that Citi and other AmCham members operate in Vietnam, AmCham Executive Director Adam Sitkoff opined that C-suite executives view CSR as a creative opportunity to strengthen their businesses while contributing to Vietnam’s development at the same time.

AmCham’s CSR Recognition Awards program is designed to raise awareness about CSR among AmCham members and the community and to recognize firms with best practice CSR programs in Vietnam. To qualify for an AmCham CSR Recognition Award, a company’s CSR program must score highly in four key categories: Attention to business objectives and societal needs; Creation of long-term economic and social gains; Communication and sharing of best practices; and Program sustainability.