O1 Properties joined several other leading Russian companies to sign an agreement on creation of a national ESG Alliance. The idea for the alliance came from Sberbank, which is the biggest retail bank in Russia.

The mission of the Alliance is to facilitate transition to a sustainable model of economic development that protects the natural environment and contributes to the well-being of society while enabling the long-term success of business, based on cooperation, partnership and the best interest of all parties involved.

A conference dedicated to the creation of the National ESG Alliance on December 1 was attended by senior managers of the following companies: Sberbank, Avtoban, AFK Sistema, Gazprom Neft, EuroChem, Kolmar Group, Metalloinvest, Uralchem, Polyus, Prosveshcheniye, RUSAL, R-Pharm, SIBUR Holding, Solar Systems, SUEK, T Plus, TECHNONICOL, Transmashholding, Delo Management Company, Uralkali, Pharmstandard, Unilever Rus, En + Group, Eurasian Resources Group, Mercury Retail Holding, PLC, O1 Properties, Vos’hod Development, X5 Group.

The National ESG Alliance is designed as a permanent platform for dialogue and involvement of all stakeholders, enabling the exchange of knowledge and experience between various business sectors, government and society. The Alliance will work to develop and promote new norms and standards in the sphere of ESG, including industry guidelines, a unified framework for ESG evaluation and reporting, transformative partnerships, interaction and the implementation of joint programs. Its goal is to achieve sustainable growth of investments for breakthrough projects focused on ESG-transformation.

Valery Mikhailov, a major shareholder of O1 Properties, said : “Growth of interest in the ESG agenda is a positive sign for the development of Russian business, but it inevitably raises numerous issues that need to be discussed. The Alliance, as a unified institution for discussion of these issues and sharing of experience, will enable high-quality dialogue between all stakeholders and disseminate the principles of sustainable business development in the interests of the Russian economy.”