The centere for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) based in Amsterdam has since 2003 been analysing and explaining the impact and role of the financial industry on poverty eradication and sustainable development. SOMO has asked Business Watch Indonesia (BWI) to carry out research about the functioning of commercial banking and insurance companies, both in public or private hands and national or foreign hands, with particular attention to the impact on the poor, the environment and the needs of societies (including respect for human rights). In addition, SOMO has asked BWI to explain the Indonesian context and relations in society in which the financial industry operates, in order to assess in how far the financial sector meets the needs of society and what the possibilities or pittfals in corporate social responsibility are for the financial sector in Indonesia.