The picturesque coastal town of Tivat in Montenegro plays host to the second annual ESG Adria Summit, which commenced today under the auspices of the rallying cry “Act now for a sustainable tomorrow”. This pivotal event has attracted over 600 participants from across the Adria region, signaling a major turning point for both the summit and sustainable development in the area.
Biljana Braithwaite, Executive Director of Sustineri Partners and founder of the ESG Adria Summit, outlined the event’s broadened scope and strategic focus, which now encompasses sustainable financing, the green transition, significant regional investments, and burgeoning sectors such as artificial intelligence and startup development. Braithwaite highlighted the critical role renewable energy sources and sustainable finance play in propelling regional transitions and implementing ESG standards across all societal facets.
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, emphasized the suitability of Montenegro, the Bay of Kotor, and Tivat as the ideal settings for such a significant gathering of experts and leaders in ecology, socially responsible policy, and corporate governance. Milatović stressed the importance of focusing on long-term sustainable development in light of ongoing ecological, energy, and economic crises, underscoring the nation’s commitment to a thorough green transition in line with the European Green Deal.
Local initiatives, such as the construction of a Centre for Mediterranean Agrocultures and the renovation of Austro-Hungarian water reservoirs, illustrate Tivat’s commitment to sustainable growth, as remarked by Tivat’s Mayor, Željko Komnenović.
The summit serves as a regional platform for launching numerous partnerships and initiatives that drive the ESG agenda across all economies in the region. Among the notable collaborations announced was a framework for cooperation between Sustineri Partners and the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum, aiming to align business strategies across the region with the ESG agenda.
Further enhancing the event’s impact, a comprehensive ESG training and certification program for professionals will be launched in collaboration with academic institutions across the region, including FEFA in Serbia, the European University in Tirana, and the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka.
The summit continues to establish itself as a cornerstone for sustainable progress in the Adria region, reflecting the growing international significance of environmental, social, and governance issues in shaping the future economic landscape.
