Environmental & Social Sustainability Report
'People, Planet, Profit'

Environmental and social sustainability mission statement

ACLEDA Bank is committed to achieving strong, sustainable financial returns while respecting the environment and community within which we live. We subscribe to the concept of triple bottom line ('people, planet, profit') reporting and are developing indicators for measuring and reporting on our performance and impacts on the society and the environment and to implement a reporting structure based on the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative.

The key elements of ACLEDA Bank’s ESS mission are:

1. To provide a framework of guidelines within which ACLEDA Bank can operate in a sustainable manner so that our impact on the environment, society and the community in which we operate is managed in a responsible way.
2. To continue to introduce energy efficient systems into our buildings and to manage sensibly our energy recruitments wherever we operate.
3. To honor the society in which we live and actively work to promote an inclusive culture, embracing not just shareholders and staff, customers, and business partners but respect for the individual within our community.
4. To recognise that supporting the community is not just morally sound but good business as well — our 'good health' and prosperity are naturally interdependent.

Environment

ACLEDA Bank fully subscribes to international conventions which prohibit the provision of credit to, or otherwise support any activities which might harm the environment, be morally repugnant or jeopardise human rights. In particular the bank has in place policies which forbid involvement exploitative forms of forced or child labour, trade in weapons and munitions, gambling, casinos, brothels, regulated wildlife or wildlife products and production or trade in radioactive materials or significant volumes of hazardous chemicals.

Social Sustainability

ACLEDA Bank's corporate culture is built on respect for the society in which we operate and an inclusive approach to our stakeholders embracing not just shareholders and staff, customers and business partners but the community at large. In addition to the environmental programs mentioned above the bank observes a policy of equality in all our dealings with the public in general and customers and staff alike. Above all, ACLEDA Bank has practiced from the very beginning ‘zero tolerance’ of corruption both internally and externally and transgressions are dealt with summarily.

The following are key principles in ACLEDA’s corporate social responsibility policy:

Staff

• ACLEDA is an ‘equal opportunity’ employer. Apart from those jobs which involve a higher physical risk (e.g. guards and messengers) appointment to all positions at every level is based entirely on merit regardless of gender or physical disability.
• ACLEDA Bank aims to be the most progressive employer in Laos providing medical, pension and other benefits. It provides comprehensive training both for new recruits as well as experienced staff.
• A high level committee under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Board has been specifically tasked with the responsibility of setting and monitoring the bank’s moral and ethical standards and respect for human rights.

Community

ACLEDA recognises that playing our part as good citizens in the community in which we abide is vital to our mutual interests and prosperity.