The program “UMBA for the Green Transition: Institutional Capacity Building and Leadership in the Implementation of ESG Policy” has been launched.

The Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia has launched the program “UMBA for the Green Transition: Institutional Capacity Building and Leadership in the Implementation of ESG Policy”, funded by the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark within the framework of the “New Democracy Fund” initiative.

The aim of the program is to provide training and consulting services on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, promote national dialogue on climate resilience, and encourage cross-sectoral and regional knowledge exchange. It is designed to foster the application of ESG principles in the business environment by strengthening the capacities of Armenian companies, advancing sustainable development, and enhancing competitiveness. It is planned that, in the first phase, special attention will be given to the wine-production sector. The activities of wine-producing companies will be examined from an ESG perspective:; environmental, social, and governance components.

The first training session of the program took place on December 5 at the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, with the participation of representatives from the Confederation of Danish Industry Peter Helk, Senior Advisor on Development Policy and Partnerships, and Signe Sørensen, Advisor.

Peter Helk presented the general directions of their organization’s activities to the participants, offering a detailed overview of European experience in ESG policy and the programs implemented by DI in this field.

Mikael Tevosyan, the head of the program, presented the main objectives and tasks of the initiative, the essence and components of ESG, relevant international practices, issues of localization, and addressed numerous questions raised by the participants.

The participants discussed and reached agreements regarding the upcoming steps.