Geneva, 3 June 2019: Ayala Corporation (Ayala) has today joined nearly 200 forward-thinking companies as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Ayala is one of the Philippines’ largest and most diversified conglomerates. Through its leadership in real estate, financial services, water and telecommunications, the company has set the pace for inclusive growth – by building sustainable communities, widening access to financial services, improving connectivity and providing clean water to Filipinos throughout the country.
The group also has emerging enterprises in infrastructure, energy, industrial technologies, healthcare and education, positioning it to play a vital role in crossing geographic, economic and social orders to bring progress to all.
In addition to its sustainability initiatives, Ayala’s commitment to nation-building is reinforced by the social and cultural programs of its Ayala Foundation. The foundation helps improve lives through programs in education, youth leadership, sustainable livelihoods, and arts and culture.
Established in 1834, Ayala has grown to now employ close to 45,000 people across the Philippines.
“We are excited to be part of WBCSD and together with like-minded global institutions, work towards alleviating some of the development challenges our society faces today through sustainable businesses,” Ayala Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said. “WBSCD’s vision is very much aligned with our own at the Ayala group as we increasingly integrate our country’s most pressing issues such as social and economic inclusivity, innovation and infrastructure development, and climate resiliency into the core of our business strategy and products and services,“ Mr. Zobel noted.
WBCSD is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. Its member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing a combined revenue of more than USD $8.5 trillion and with 19 million employees. WBCSD is uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver high-impact business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues.
“WBCSD is delighted to welcome Ayala as our newest member. Ayala’s leadership in sustainability is a beacon to large conglomerates across the world, showing how financial results can be integrated with wider impacts on people and societies. We look forward to working with Ayala to deepen their impact and help effect transformational change across the systems of our world” said WBCSD President and CEO Peter Bakker.
By connecting with WBCSD’s network of forward-thinking businesses across a variety of sectors, Ayala can make an even wider impact on global corporate sustainability.
