REsponsible Business Dialogue Conference

In collaboration with the consulting firm EY, we conducted a study titled “Insights into Companies’ ESG and Sustainability Policies and Activities”. The research highlights key trends and challenges Serbian companies face in implementing ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) practices.

“The research was conducted in two separate but complementary parts—analyzing the strategic perspectives of senior management from 155 AmCham member companies and gathering expert-level insights from 70 member companies about specific environmental, social, and governance policies and activities. Our aim was to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of play and strategic directions for ESG development, as well as to explore key opportunities for further advancements,” said Amalija Pavić, AmCham Deputy Director.

The REsponsible Business Dialogue conference, which brought together representatives from the business community, local and international experts, and civil society organizations, concluded that large companies led the way in sustainable business practices. These firms set standards and acted as examples, offering support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainability principles and integrating ESG standards into their operations.

“The research reveals that AmCham member companies recognize that applying ESG principles not only improves their market position and customer relations but also influences their attractiveness as employers, because employees increasingly prioritize these topics when making career decisions. ESG is becoming not just an ethical imperative but also a strategic opportunity for market success,” said Stefan Lazarević, AmCham President.

The conference provided insights into the latest global and EU policies, trends, and innovations in sustainability practices. A special focus was placed on protecting natural resources through private sector investments, with examples of best practices from organizations such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and CreditNature from the UK. Discussions covered private sector initiatives for water resource protection, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and the development of new financing mechanisms being implemented globally.

The participants also had the opportunity to learn about various climate change scenarios presented by Professor Vladimir Đorđević from the Faculty of Physics, biodiversity protection strategies shared by Nataša Kalauz, Director of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Adria, latest developments in EU sustainability regulations, future of green financing, and nature-based investments. Also highlighted Were examples of companies investing in sustainability innovations.

The conference included a Sustainable Solutions Fair aimed at connecting SMEs and startups delivering innovation and providing sustainable solutions with AmCham member companies seeking specific and innovative ways to improve their business practices in line with ESG principles.

The research findings are available here. (Serbian version only)