Siemens 2011 Annual Report Download - page 72

20 Siemens – A pioneer of our time 50 Get closer to our customers 46 Focus on innovation-driven growth markets
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i. Stand for integrity
We’re committed to fair competition. In our efforts to
succeed on the world’s markets, we aim to comply with
all applicable laws and regulations. Ethical business
conduct is a non-negotiable component of our corpo-
rate culture. We’ve formulated transparent and binding
principles of behavior and taken a clear and unmistak-
able position in the battle against corruption. We also
fulfill our responsibilities to society, the environment
and our employees. For us, occupational safety, health
management and the conservation of natural resources
are all part of ethical business conduct.
Fair competition requires that all market participants
play by the same rules. Everywhere in the world, we’ve
entered into integrity pacts with our partners and com-
petitors. As part of what we call collective action, cus-
tomers and suppliers make a project-specific commit-
ment to maintain transparency in the bidding process
and abstain from bribery when competing for public-
sector contracts.
In India alone, we’ve concluded around 40 integrity
pacts with public-sector organizations since 2009. Fol-
lowing discussions with these customers and the NGO
Transparency International India, integrity pacts are
now included in bidding documents and will be required
for future contract awards in the country.
In many parts of the world, we’re carrying the fight
against corruption beyond the borders of our own in-
dustry. In the Czech Republic, for instance, we worked
together with the American Chamber of Commerce to
build a coalition for transparent business practices. And
in Russia, we’re one of the companies that joined forces
with the German Chamber of Commerce and the Inter-
national Business Leaders Forum to launch the Corporate
Ethics Initiative, whose declaration has now been signed
by more than 90 enterprises.
With a budget of US$100 million, our Siemens Integrity
Initiative will promote the development of fair com-
petitive conditions over the next 15 years. The initiative
finances NGOs worldwide that are committed to ethical
business practices and the battle against corruption. In
the first funding round, we’re supporting 31 projects in
20 countries. The beneficiaries include organizations
like Brazil’s Instituto Ethos, which is dedicated to ensur-
ing the transparency of infrastructure contract awards
connected with the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olym-
pic Games in Brazil. In Europe, recipients of our support
also include the newly established International Anti-
Corruption Academy in Vienna, to which we’ve provided
funding for anti-corruption research and education and
for the training of anti-corruption experts. Further infor-
mation on the Integrity Initiative and the settlement
with the World Bank specifying the establishment of the
Initiative is available in the “Compliance report,” on page
35 of Part II of this Annual Report.
Creating fair markets, complying with legal regulations
and fighting corruption worldwide – this is only one
part of what we understand by integrity. For us, environ-
mental protection, health management, occupational
safety and clear, unambiguous requirements for suppli-
ers and partners are also vital.
Ever since 1971, when we set up our environmental pro-
tection office, we’ve been expanding our worldwide en-
vironmental management activities and adapting them
to ever-changing requirements. Our own environmental
i