Belgrade Stock Exchange commits to Sustainability with UN initiative

28 August 2018

(28 August 2018) Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX) in Serbia has become a Partner Exchange of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, signifying its commitment to promoting transparent and sustainable capital markets. “We are delighted to join the SSE initiative. This collaboration with the UN partnership program for sustainable capital markets will help us build capacity to further promote integration of sustainability considerations and corporate transparency into our issuer’s corporate behaviour and business practices. We believe that this partnership will help us strengthen our efforts in promoting the role of stock exchanges in fostering economic growth, improving SME access to finance and advancing corporate governance disclosure and performance among companies in Serbia.” said Mr. Siniša Krneta, CEO of the Belgrade Stock Exchange. Mr. Krneta added, “Through dialogue with investors, companies, regulators and other stakeholders, the Belgrade Stock Exchange has already committed to promoting long-term sustainable investment and corporate governance among Serbian companies. Collaboration with the SSE Initiative will provide valuable input and  support to our efforts aimed at promoting best practices and international standards in sustainable investment, transparent capital market and reporting in Serbia.” The Belgrade Stock Exchange was originally founded in 1894, and the exchange in its present form goes back to 1989. It now joins 75 other stock exchanges partners of the SSE. Launched in 2009, the SSE was built on the demand from exchanges for a place to come together with investors, companies and policymakers to share good practices and challenges in a multi-stakeholder environment. The initiative has grown into what is now a global partnership platform including most of the world’s exchanges. Through the SSE exchanges have access to consensus and capacity building activities, guidance, research and other support to assist in their efforts to contribute to sustainable development.

About the SSE

​The SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE’s mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services.