The Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies (ANKASAM) presents its interview with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expert, as well as the Founding Director of CARE CSR, Malika Sharipova. The discussion explores the impact of sustainable business models on competitiveness and long-term profitability, successful sustainability projects that support female leadership, and the significance of companies’ adherence to ESG principles in global markets.
1. How is sustainable development transforming today’s business world?
I can see that Sustainable development is fundamentally reshaping today’s business world by integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into their strategies. Companies are no longer judged solely on financial performance but also on their impact on people and the planet. Governments worldwide are tightening environmental laws. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and carbon border taxes push companies to integrate sustainability across supply chains.
It is pleasant to see that it is also developing in Uzbekistan – slowly, but at least, the process has started, we can see it in:
- The government introduced stricter environmental regulations, particularly in energy and water management. The government’s push for green energy, highlights the increasing need for businesses to align with sustainability requirements. The projects on CSR I have drafted for Acwa Power – the largest investor in energy sector, current project on the biggest hydropower company on drafting their environmental and climate change policies all show that today businesses are in need to implement sustainability and responsibility strategies.
- International investors and financial institutions now require clear ESG commitments. For instance, the textile and agriculture industries, major drivers of Uzbekistan’s economy, face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable water use and ethical labor practices to maintain export opportunities, particularly in European markets. I have helped over 100 textile companies to obtain necessary knowledge on social and environmental compliance and fair labor, some of them were able to acquire international social and environmental certifications and audits, today successfully selling their good to EU market.
Climate change is an increasing concern in the world, businesses that integrate sustainability into their risk management strategies are better positioned to adapt to these challenges. Companies reducing waste, switching to renewables, and optimizing resources save money while enhancing resilience. Amazon and Apple are investing heavily in carbon-neutral operations. Brands like Patagonia and Tesla thrive by embedding sustainability into their business models.
For instance, given Uzbekistan’s water scarcity issues, companies should start working on innovative irrigation solutions and water conservation strategies to ensure long-term agricultural productivity.
2. What should be the biggest motivation for companies to transition to sustainable and responsible business models?
Well, the biggest motivation for companies to transition to sustainable and responsible business models should be long-term survival and competitiveness. In today’s world, we see it more and more the fact that businesses that fail to integrate ESG principles face regulatory risks, financial instability, and loss of consumer trust or simply cannot tolerate the competitive market. Today stricter ESG regulations globally, such as the EU Green Deal and supply chain due diligence laws, make sustainability essential for market entry. For example, Uzbek textile exporters must meet sustainability standards to access European markets.
We see that SRI trend is strengthening and Investors are prioritizing ESG-compliant businesses. Companies with strong sustainability strategies attract green financing, impact investors, and lower borrowing costs.
Sustainable practices, such as energy efficiency and waste reduction, lower operational costs. Companies investing in renewables and circular economy models are less vulnerable to resource price fluctuations.
Customers increasingly prefer ethical and transparent brands. Meanwhile, the next generation of employees seeks purpose-driven workplaces, making ESG crucial for talent attraction and retention.
All of that and many more shows that transitioning to a sustainable model is not just about compliance or reputation—it’s about securing long-term profitability, innovation, and resilience in a rapidly changing world.
3. Can you provide examples of successful sustainability projects that support women’s leadership?
Successful sustainability projects that support women’s leadership demonstrate how empowering women leads to positive social, environmental, and economic outcomes.
We can talk about several examples, for instance, Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh) project. Part of the Grameen Bank initiative, Grameen Shakti trains women as solar technicians, enabling them to install and maintain solar systems in rural communities. This not only promotes renewable energy but also enhances women’s technical skills and economic participation.
Coca-Cola’s 5by20 Initiative – This project aimed to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across Coca-Cola’s value chain by 2020. Through training and mentorship, women gained leadership skills and financial independence, contributing to their communities’ economic and social sustainability.
Korzinka, Uzbekistan’s leading supermarket chain, has implemented various initiatives to support women in the workforce. Women in Leadership Program at Korzinka actively promotes gender equality in management, ensuring more women are represented in leadership roles within the company. The company focuses on creating a workplace culture that supports women through training programs, career development, and policies against workplace discrimination.
Women play a crucial role in sustainable development, and when they are empowered, entire communities benefit that is why sustainability projects that support women’s leadership are important because they drive economic growth, social equity, and environmental resilience.
