Heineken Sustainability Report 2008

Impact on developing markets

Heineken operates in many different countries, each with their own customs and culture. As a good citizen, we aim to maintain uniform minimum standards of conduct regardless of where we operate. In addition, we also want to be an integral part of the societies where we conduct our business so we actively contribute to the development of those societies. Doing business in developing countries requires different skills, thinking, approaches and services than in developed countries. Sometimes, particularly in the area of healthcare, being a multinational company means taking on the sort of responsibilities that the Western world traditionally sees as the domain of governments.