The second regional ESG Adria Summit, under the slogan "Act now for a sustainable tomorrow", started today in Tivat, and will gather more than 600 participants.  In Tivat, we are uniting to push forward a sustainability agenda across the Adria region. 

Biljana Braithwaite, CEO of Sustineri Partners and founder of the ESG Adria Summit  welcomed everyone at the opening: “This year marks a watershed moment for our summit as we extend our reach beyond the Western Balkans to embrace the dynamic Adriatic area, including Croatia and Slovenia. This strategic expansion not only deepens our engagement with crucial themes such as sustainable finance, the green transition, significant regional investments, and the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence and startup development, but also opens new horizons of possibilities.”

This year’s Summit is organised in partnership with the Government of Montenegro and under the auspices of the President of Montenegro. The audience was addressed by the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic: “It is the fact that climate change is changing the world as we know it. Our country is no exception. In the light of all ecological, energy and economic crises we are facing, which recurrence is certain, it is necessary to clearly consider and focus on long-term sustainable development,” 

He emphasised that as a region, we can work on the green transition and implementation of the European Green Plan more thoroughly: “This is precisely why I believe that green economy, innovation and sustainable tourism are the basis on which our country, as well as neighbouring countries, can build long-term economic stability and prosperity. The clean energy sector can be a leader in this field, and Montenegro has already made great steps in this field.“

Our guests were welcomed by Željko Komnenović, Mayor of Tivat: “ In Montenegro, we firmly believe that we will soon find ourselves under the umbrella of European Union standards, and caring for these three aspects of business will not be a desirable way of acting for all of us, but an obligation. That we must consider ESG principles already is clear, perhaps clearest, at the level of a small local community that is constantly changing.” 

Guests were also greeted by David Margason, the Managing Director of Porto Montenegro, one of the organisers of the Summit: ”Following the success of the inaugural Sustineri Partners ESG Summit Adria last year, Porto Montenegro is delighted to host the second summit on this globally critical topic. We hardly need remaining today of the vital importance of working together to protect and make thrive, our planetary environment and communities and with Montenegro adopting an increasingly important position in the world stage, this is a timely and appropriate conference to be hosting again in Boka Bay, here at Porto Montenegro.”

Gergely Pokos, Executive Director of the Green Program Directorate of OTP Bank from Hungary, stated that sustainability is the biggest challenge for our generations. "The transformation of economies in the Balkans, but also in the world, has already begun and is already taking place at the political level. We know that it will be long-term, complex, but it is important for us not to be afraid of this transformation. We are aware that we do not know a lot, but it is good that the key economic buildings are there, the technology is there, we have projects and all this will help us reach a sustainable future. There is no ecological sustainability without economic profitability", concluded Pokos.

Natalija Radonjić, Senior Engineer on the projects of the company Obnovljivi izvori energije announced that this company, as a platinum sponsor of the ESG Adria Summit, sees the support of such events as an excellent opportunity to present ourselves as a region to Europe and beyond, and draw attention to how important things are happening in Montenegro. It is burning, especially in terms of the green transition.

Year after year, ESG Adria Summit became a regional platform for numerous partnerships and the launch of initiatives that drive the ESG agenda of all economies in the region.