This week the official start of the first and only think tank for sustainable finance and energy in Bulgaria – Green Finance & Energy Centre. The Green Centre was established on the initiative of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) and is realized with the support of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy, the Financial Supervision Commission and the Fund of Funds.

A symbolic start to the activities of the Green Centre was given through the digital signing of the Charter for Sustainable Economic Development of Bulgaria.

Ms. Mariya Filipova, Deputy Chairperson of the Financial Supervision Commission, Head of the Investment Supervision Department, welcomed the partners and participants in the project, saying that “we are all committed to the cause of working actively for the development of the capital market, to strive for sustainable growth and build a climate-neutral economy in the long run.”

In her presentation, Ms. Filipova stressed that “the basis for balanced and fruitful interaction between the regulator, corporate management, shareholders and other stakeholders is respect for the rights and obligations of all market participants.” She called for responsible decision-making and focus on working to ensure favourable conditions for achieving sustainable growth and achieving common long-term goals, as well as establishing transparent and fair relationships between all participants in the capital market.

The Green Centre is a NGO – think tank for sustainable finance and energy. The Centre creates policies in the fields of sustainable finance and energy, leads the public debate and formulates specific solutions on these issues in the country.

Although 83.9% of companies assess the level of their policies above average, over 41% of them lack information and 37.5% of companies report as an important problem the lack of codes and methodological documents with a practical focus. This became evident from the study of the environment from the aspects of ecology, social responsibility and good corporate governance (the so-called ESG practices – Environmental, Social, Governance) – made by VUZF Lab on behalf of the BSE among 56 companies from 7 economic sectors. The study was presented by Prof. Virzhinia Zhelyazkova – Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Quality at the Higher School of Insurance and Finance.

Mr. Manyu Moravenov and Mr. Konstantin Konstantinov, Executive Directors of the BSE and IBEX presented the mission, goals and first initiatives to be taken by the Green Centre. These include raising awareness among businesses, upgrading the code of good corporate governance with aspects of environmental development and social responsibility, creating a stock exchange Green Index to encourage companies to implement ESG practices, and to distinguish those who do so in the best way.

Special guests of the event were Marinela Petrova – Deputy Minister of Finance, Zhecho Stankov – Deputy Minister of Energy, and Aleksandar Georgiev – Executive Director of the Fund of Funds.

The views of Europe and the world on sustainable finance and energy were provided by Eva Maidel, Member of the European Parliament, and Anthony Miller, Chief Coordinator of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative.

More information about Green Finance & Energy Centre – www.gfecentre.org