In 2009, Russian companies for the first time became applicants for GBC Awards for Business Excellence, annually bestowed by Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC).

Awards for Business Excellence, annually bestowed by GBC leaders during a solemn ceremony with participation of the world business leaders, are the most prestigious international awards for the corporate social responsibility. The awardees are companies with strong commitment towards social health, which made considerable contribution to the development of healthcare programs both in their own countries and all around the world. During the past years, among the awardees there were the major world corporations. In particular, among the 2008 awardees there were BBC media corporation, bestowed for the large-scale educational HIV-prevention campaign in India, Becton&Dickinson company – for active participation in expanding access to tuberculosis diagnostics in emerging countries, Johnson&Johnson company – for participation in the program dedicated to education for HIV-positive mothers and expanding access to treatment for them. Among the celebrities participated in the award distribution ceremonies there were ex President of the United States Bill Clinton, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Angelina Jolie, Elton John.

In 2009, among the Award for Business Excellence applicants, there are two Russian companies – TNK-BP, nominated for organizing and implementing regional program ‘Young generation makes a choice’ in Orenburg oblast, and Ogilvy – Russia advertising agency, nominated for the development of educational materials for ‘StopSPID’ HIV-prevention campaign.

The awardees of the Awards for Business Excellence – 2009 will be announced, and the awards will be bestowed on June 24 in Washington. Among the participants of the solemn ceremony, there will be the applicants companies’ representatives, as well as world political and business leaders, heads of multilaterals.