Hugo Van Veghel, President of the Belgian-Serbian Business Association (BSBA), took part as a panelist at the conference titled “Partnership for Equality: Building a Better Work Environment Together.” The event marked 15 years since the establishment of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. It was organized by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ), through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. During the conference, Hugo participated in the session titled “Business Associations as Allies in Promoting Equality and Responsible Business.” The discussion focused on the role of business associations in promoting inclusive labor practices, workplace diversity, and responsible business strategies aligned with ESG principles.
This panel followed the discussion “Inclusive Business Policies and ESG Principles – From Implementation to Success,” which explored the implementation of anti-discrimination measures, inclusive workplace practices, and ESG principles. Panelists included senior executives from UniCredit Bank Serbia, A1 Srbija, Hemofarm Group, Nestlé, and Banca Intesa.
The conference concluded with the session “Conclusions and Discussion: Building a Network of Companies for Equality in the Workplace,” which offered a summary of key takeaways and a call to action for continued cooperation. The focus moving forward is the creation of a network of companies committed to inclusive workplace policies and sustainable, responsible business conduct.
As BSBA, we strongly encourage all our member companies and partners to continue investing in inclusivity, to further integrate ESG principles into their business models, and to work together with institutions and peer organizations to build a future where equality is not only a shared value, but a driver of long-term success.
