The ESG trend is not only about sustainability but also about profitability.

As part of the Kcell Eurasian Mobile Summit 2023 conference, a discussion took place on the globally relevant topic of sustainable development.

Ainur Zhanturnina, moderator of the session and founder of RISE Research, asked representatives of the mobile communications market and telecom companies what businesses in Kazakhstan should pay attention to, whether certain trends are emerging, and which initiatives are already being implemented in the country.

Evgeny Mukhamedzhanov, founder of the ECO Network project, noted that there is no single global rating or even a unified understanding of how ESG principles are formed. Each company is free to choose its own approach.

“However, it is important to understand that the ESG factor determines whether to provide funding to this company or not, whether to invest in it. As of today, the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan has already established an agenda followed by all banking institutions. They are pioneers. I recommend that companies learn to track all their expenses.”

Dmitry Konarev, Solutions Architect at Huawei’s ICT/Fellow division, confirmed that the telecom sector is currently focused on sustainable development and significantly influences the future of the economy. The implementation of telecom technologies allows for a tenfold reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Companies need to take this into account in their strategies.

Anar Zhumagulova, CSR Manager at Beeline Kazakhstan, outlined the specific steps taken by operators. For instance, her company has stopped using diesel generators, switched to cloud solutions, reduced energy consumption, and optimized base stations, which now operate on smart systems.

Yerlan Minavar, Deputy Chairman of the Board for Strategic Development and Innovation at “TransTeleCom,” added that Kazakhstan has significant potential for implementing social and state initiatives in the field of ESG. In this process, the role of the regulator is crucial for promoting these projects, ensuring transparent financial reporting by companies, and developing their own initiatives to address environmental, social, and governance issues.