 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN |
| India today is a nation in the
balance. On the one hand we
are one of the fastest developing
nations in the world. But on the
other side of the scale lies India’s
social needs and economic
distribution. It poses a unique
challenge for business, society
and the policy makers.
At Ambuja we strongly believe
that Sustainability is one the
most powerful answers to these
challenges. It is the key to
a safer and happier future for
generations to come.
So it gives me great pride to
introduce Value Creation -
Ambuja Cements’ Sustainability
Report of 2013. In the quest to
create value beyond business,
our people are focused on
creating enduring results in all
three aspects of our future - Social,
Environmental and Economic.
As a company that touches millions of lives we feel responsible for building a stronger nation. To understand our focus on Sustainability it is important to know that it has always been a part of Ambuja’s culture. It was 27 years ago when the company’s first bag of cement was produced at Ambujanagar. And right from that time our philosophy has been centered on I Can – a personal mission to transform the world around us. While this report is not mandated by law, we feel compelled by a sense of responsibility to society, to share our results and efforts towards Sustainability. A strong financial performance serves as more than just profit. It allows us to make investments that continue responsible and safe operations, produce superior quality cement for the nation, as well as reward our shareholders. However our employees remain our most valuable asset. While the company has scaled up production, we’ve simultaneously improved safety operations and social well-being. And the global benchmarks set by the Holcim Group will only raise the standards ever higher. Another equally important function of Sustainability is Corporate Social Responsibility. Ambuja ensures that the lives it touches are always changed for the better, right down to the smallest aspects of living. Because even a small deed can create ripples of change. The company spent `52.57 crores during the year 2013 on CSR activities alone, which accounts for over 4% of the company’s net profit. Our engagement though our CSR arm, the Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), has earned us important recognition from various stakeholders like community, government, NGOs and industry associations. It’s no wonder then that we have been recognised as pioneers in CSR and Sustainability. This report is intended to extensively cover all practices that are directed towards the environment, society and economy in the course of our business operations. But it is more than just a summary of the tasks that we have accomplished. I intend it to be a roadmap for the future of our Sustainability efforts. The world is watching us and we aim to rise to the challenge of improving with every year. N. S. Sekhsaria Chairman |
