Collaboration between GRI and Dhaka Stock Exchange
to drive uptake of sustainability reporting in Bangladesh
About the flyer
Designed for large companies and regulators in Bangladesh, this flyer aims to provide details
and outline the benefits of participating in GRI and Dhaka Stock Exchange Programmes that
help advance sustainability reporting and create the global common language for organisations
to report on their impacts. Now more than ever, in light of the global pandemic and its impact on
businesses the world over, sustainability reporting can help anticipate risks and increase resiliencein the face of crisis – both present and future.

BackgroundAs part of a larger effort to closely work with stock
exchanges and regulators in the region and create
a conducive environment for large companies toreport on their sustainability impacts and contributeto a more sustainable trade, in 2017 GRI South Asia
and Australian Government’s Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT) renewed their cooperation
with the Sustainable Trade and Investment ThroughReporting (STIR) Programme. In what followed, anagreement with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)
was signed to sensitise companies and regulators
to sustainability reporting with the world’s mostwidely used sustainability disclosure standards –the GRI Standards. In collaboration with GRI, DSE
launched the Guidance on Sustainability Reportingfor listed companies in Bangladesh.

 I have attended three workshops as part of
the Technical Series. I have acquired important
knowledge from these sessions. If we can adopt
sustainability reporting practices in the company, it
will benefit not only our company but also our key
stakeholders. It will enhance our reputation.”
Md Shamim Kabir, Sr. Vice President,Kohinoor Chemical Co. (BD) Ltd

What to expect from GRI and DSE
Programmes
The GRI and DSE joint Programmes are designed
to assist the reporters on their sustainability
reporting journey through a series of workshops
and sessions that cover a wide variety of reporting
aspects, such as identifying the most relevant topics
for disclosure, engaging the stakeholders involved,
preparing the content of the report, etc. GRI andDSE Programmes include:•••••

Explanatory presentation and slides••

Peer-to-peer learning

Group exercises and discussions
Panel discussions
Homework and assignments for workshops
One-on-one exclusive progress calls withparticipating companies
Support and learning from external experts

The benefits of participating in GRI and DSE Programmes and continued
support from GRI
The GRI and DSE Programmes can provide
invaluable guidance and practical support on thedevelopment of sustainability reports using theworld’s leading sustainability disclosure standards –the GRI Standards. The benefits of participating inGRI and DSE Programmes include:•Insights and practical tips on the reporting
process shared by practitioners and experts•Access to a whole variety of GRI resources andtools•

A solid understanding of the GRI Standards andtheir implementation•

Opportunities for hosting in-house exclusive
sessions for the senior management and/or theBoard•

Tailored support and guidance on best practices
and quality reporting – both for new andexperienced reporters•All questions and queries about the reporting
process answered

Plus, GRI will provide continued support for allparticipants, which includes:•In-house support sessions or webinars toaddress existing questions and guide reporters
through the preparation of a sustainability report•Help with uploading the report to GRI’sDisclosure Database•

The use of GRI Services such as Materiality
Disclosure and Content Index•

A possibility to join GRI Community, which
provides a platform for learning, profilingmember companies and receiving expert
knowledge and insights through GRI online
Programme and webinars•

Access to GRI Academy - a go-to learning
platform for sustainability-related topics

Benefits of reporting with the GRI Standards
Sustainability reports based on the GRI Standards
can:•Be used to benchmark organizational
performance with respect to laws, norms, codes,performance standards and voluntary initiativesboth nationally and internationally.

•Provide a competitive edge•

Offer client benefits when assessing acompany’s ESG performance•

Demonstrate organizational commitment tosustainable development•

Compare organizational performance over time•

Improve risk management and investor relations•

Engage with stakeholders and improvestakeholder relations•

Motivate and engage employees

 Today, sustainability reporting is very importantfor businesses and society as a whole. I got
practical knowledge from the workshops andlearnt about how to prepare a sustainability reportwith the GRI Standards. Now I can approach ourmanagement to share the required information forreporting.”
Md Abdul Salam Khan, Company Secretary,
Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited

More information about DSE can be found at:www.dsebd.org

Supported by theAustralian Government

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