Confindustria Serbia, the Association of Italian Industrialists in Serbia, unveiled the ESG Lab initiative – designed to assist small and medium-sized enterprises in adopting sustainable business practices and meeting regulatory and market requirements in the field of ESG.
Considering that, according to the latest data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Serbia’s commodity exchange with the European Union countries amounted to nearly 60 percent in 2023, the mission of ESG Lab is to support companies in adapting to ESG standards through direct assistance, initiatives, and lobbying efforts.
Recognizing the pivotal role of the insurance industry in the economy and the integration of the ESG framework into business strategies and corporate culture, DDOR osiguranje, as part of the large European financial system Unipol Group, is committed to contributing to the extent applicable to the ambitious ESG goals set-out by Unipol Group in its Strategic Plan 2022-2024, where the support to the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda, the Sustainability Policy and the Climate Change Strategy have been integrated.
Therefore, Francesco Masci, CEO of DDOR osiguranje and also a member of the General Council of Confindustria Serbia, and the first recipient of the association’s “Franco Delneri” award for achievements in the field of ESG, stated that DDOR’s commitment to governance, social responsibility, and environmental protection clearly demonstrates dedication to sustainability.
“Climate change matters because it is a risk. As a leading insurance player, we strongly believe we have a crucial role in supporting a safer business environment and safeguarding the future of the planet. However, we face numerous challenges. Raising awareness, driving appropriate and supportive changes in the legislative framework, and the economic sustainability of the ESG transition are key elements of our progress towards ESG goals,” said Masci.
This significant event was opened by the Vice President of Confindustria Serbia, responsible for ESG, Eduardo Bombieri, and was also addressed by the Ambassador of Italy to Belgrade, H.E. Luca Gori. Erik Kosuta, President of Dragon Maritime Group, a leader in logistics, also spoke on this important topic through a dynamic and interactive dialogue moderated by Aleksandar Plavšin, Managing Partner of the Business Intelligence Institute.
ESG Lab will certainly contribute to raising awareness of ESG standards and the obligations they entail for the economy, through the organization of educational seminars and best practice examples for employees and decision-makers within companies.