STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 29, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Skanska takes initiative on global anti-corruption effort in engineering and construction industry
In a joint action with 18 other international engineering and construction (E&C) firms, Skanska has signed an initiative to fight corruption in the E&C industry. The initiative is being taken within the framework of the Engineering & Construction Task Force, a group affiliated with the World Economic Forum.
The companies, representing annual sales exceeding USD 70 billion, about SEK 510 billion, have committed to a ``zero tolerance" policy on bribery and to the development of a program of internal systems and controls to prevent corruption.
``Corruption is a significant problem in the construction industry in many countries in the world, particularly for serious companies such as Skanska that compete legally. Accordingly, it is highly important that such a strong combination of companies now have joined forces to fight this", says Skanska's President and CEO Stuart Graham.
Skanska was one of the initiators behind the effort and one of the driving companies in the work to develop the new principles. In practice, the initiative involves such elements as the participating companies being forced to adopt distinct rules about what gifts may be given and received, how support to politicians and political parties may be carried out and how contacts with public authorities shall be conducted. Another important point is the requirement that employees must undergo ethics training.
``We have made strides in Skanska with the Code of Conduct we adopted in 2001 and the more stringent controls implemented in the Group. Nonetheless, this is work that must be ongoing and we are now moving ahead with the training of 25,000 employees worldwide, among other measures", says Stuart Graham. Companies participating in the initiative will now strive to have additional companies in the industry as well as public authorities and other customers in the industry to join the fight against corruption.
For further information, please contact:
Stuart Graham, President and CEO, Skanska AB, tel +46 8 753 88 50 Peter Gimbe, Press Officer, Skanska AB, tel +46 8 753 88 38 or +46 70 543 88 38
Companies that have signed the initiative: Fouad M.T.Alghanim & Sons Group, Kuwait Hilti AB, Liechtenstein Turner International, USA Fluor Corporation, USA Murray & Roberts Holdings, South Africa Skanska, Sweden Aveng Limited, South Africa Autostrade, Italy Consolidated Contractors Company, Greece Lahoud Engineering, Lebanon SNC-Lavalin Group, Canada Marhnos, Mexico Obayashi Corporation, Japan ABB, Switzerland Corporacion Impsa, Argentina CH2M HILL Companies, USA Peremba Group of Companies, Malaysia Karl Steiner Holding, Switzerland Biwater, United Kingdom
This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com
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