For “knowing best how to gather opportunities in the Chinese market”, Pirelli was presented with the 2009 Top Investor in China award in Milan on Wednesday 25 November as part of the 2009 China Awards organised by the Italy-China Foundation. A special evening which took place under the patronage of Italy’s Ministry for Economic Development and its Foreign Ministry in partnership with Italian Chamber of Commerce in China with a contribution of the Intesa San Paolo Bank, which saw Pirelli, together with other companies including Brembo, Italcementi and Iveco, as protagonists of Italian entrepreneurial activity, which had distinguished itself for the importance of its investments in China. The presentation of 2009 China Awards took place during a charity dinner, the proceeds from which will be donated to the Lifeline Express project, a hospital train that travels the most remote regions of China to cure cataracts.

Yesterday, institutions and companies met at the headquarters of Assolombarda, Milan, in support of equal opportunity. Diana Bracco, President of the Sodalitas Foundation, presented the ‘Document for equal opportunity and equality at work’, a declaration of intent for the diffusion of a business and political culture of human resources free of discrimination and prejudice and capable of enhancing talent in all its diversity.

Promoted by the Sodalitas Foundation, AIAF (Associazione Italiana Imprese Familiari), AIDDA (Associazione Imprenditrici Donne Dirigenti d’Azienda), Impronta Etica, UCID (Unione Cristiana Imprenditori Dirigenti), the Ufficio Nazionale Consigliera di Parità with the support of the Ministry of Work, Health and Social Policies and the Ministry for Equal Opportunity, the Document provides a picture of reference evaluation to guide companies adherent to its application, containing non-detailed regulations but few programmatic commitments based on the principals and key elements of effective programmes of change, tested with success by committed companies that have been associated with the subject for some time.

Sixteen Italian companies voluntarily signed the document on the conclusion of a convention that took place, among the speakers at which were Maurizio Sacconi, Minister of Work, Health and Social Policies and Simonetta Matone, Head of the Cabinet at the Ministry for Equal Opportunity. Among the companies were Abb, Bpm, Bracco, IBM, Nestlé, l’Oréal Italia and Unipol. After having illustrated the commitment of the Group in drafting the Document and the diffusion of a culture of equal opportunity, Antonio Calabrò, director of Institutional and Cultural Affairs and a member of the Presidential Committee of Assolombarda for culture and social responsibility in business, signed the Document for Pirelli, a commitment for the diffusion of policies and resources free of discrimination and prejudice, also contributing in that way to the competitiveness and success of  the company.

To learn more go to pirelli.com

For the seventh consecutive year, Pirelli has been confirmed in the twice-yearly review of Financial Times sustainability indices FTSE4Good World and STOXX, which measure corporate performance in terms of respect for international standards of economic, social and environmental sustainability. British independent research provider Eiris, working for the Financial Times, evaluated among other corporate characteristics: sustainable supply chain management, ethical behaviour rules, means of prevention and management of risk, environmental impact management and relations with stakeholders. The review did not admit new companies to the Automobiles & Parts segment of the indices, continuing to include Pirelli as the only Italian company included in that segment.

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