OREANDA-NEWS. December 11, 2012. According to the results of the Corporate Responsibility Index 2012, Swedbank ranked among the highest companies, achieving the gold level. The corporate responsibility quality label was awarded to a total of 33 companies, reported the press-centre of Swedbank.

Marko Siller, the CEO of Responsible Business Forum, said that the results reflect the outstanding performance of these companies, taking into account the reality of life in Estonia. “We value a well-thought-out approach that is related to the company’s main activities,” he said. “The gold level does not indicate the absolute top: it’s always possible to do better. However, we see that companies who have received the responsible business label have taken steps in the right direction and deserve recognition.”

“Responsible business is not by nature an activity that provides a company with quick income for the short term,” said Priit Perens, CEO of Swedbank Estonia. “Responsible business helps to create and maintain a more stable living and business environment. I’m glad that this continues to resonate in society and among entrepreneurs.”

For example, the bank has started to promote financial literacy in cooperation with the ‘Back to School’ initiative, and one of the highlights of this year for the bank has been the development of ATMs with a speech interface for visually impaired and blind people in cooperation with the Estonian Federation of the Blind.

The bank’s initiatives in the fields of education, public health and the promotion of entrepreneurship have long-term value. Thanks to the ‘Youth to School’ initiative, nearly 80 enthusiastic young people have entered the Estonian educational system during the last six years. The Coalition of Companies against HIV has provided training opportunities for nearly 5000 people and offered the possibility of rapid HIV testing to nearly 3000 people. And Prototron, the prototype fund established in 2012 in cooperation with Tehnopol Science Park in Tallinn and Tallinn University of Technology, has awarded its first three grants for innovative solutions.

The function of the information portal for businesses (established this year) and the Institute of Private Finances (established in 2010) is to support sustainable and broad economic development. In simple terms, they give useful and practical tips about everyday finances and running a business.

The project is led by the Responsible Business Forum in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ethics Centre of the Estonian Business School and Aripaev.

The list of companies that were awarded the quality label of responsible business can be found online at http://www.csr.ee/2012-tulemused/.