The Forum generated a set of practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability performance of businesses, while creating an enabling environment for investment, innovation, and growth. 

 

Across all panels and workshops, participants emphasized that sustainability, competitiveness, innovation, digitalization, and access to finance should be pursued as mutually reinforcing objectives. Successful implementation will require strong public-private partnerships, coordinated action among institutions, and targeted support to help businesses, particularly SMEs, adapt to evolving market requirements and strengthen their position within European and global value chains. 

 

Specific recommendations from the panels and workshops include: 

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Panel 1: Business Chambers and Sustainability 

• Position business chambers as facilitators of the sustainability transition by providing practical tools, advisory services, training, networking opportunities, and policy advocacy. 

• Strengthen SME preparedness for ESG, CBAM, and sustainability-related requirements.  

• Expand access to green finance, grant schemes, and investment support.  

• Accelerate digitalization, innovation, and energy transition.  

• Promote stronger collaboration between businesses, universities, and public institutions.  

• Ensure predictable regulation and stronger public-private dialogue.  

• Position sustainability as a driver of competitiveness and long-term growth.  

 

Workshop: Supporting Innovation, Digitalization and Green Investments 

• Modernize regulatory frameworks to keep pace with technological innovation and emerging business models. 

• Expand investments in digital infrastructure, including cloud services, data centers, digital connectivity, and smart technologies. 

• Promote broader adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced digital solutions across sectors. 

• Accelerate the development of circular economy systems, waste recovery, recycling infrastructure, and resource-efficiency initiatives. 

• Establish stronger incentives and financing mechanisms for digital and green investments. 

• Expand workforce development, reskilling, and training programmes focused on digital and sustainability-related competencies. 

• Strengthen knowledge-sharing platforms and cooperation between businesses, government, academia, and development partners. 

 

Workshop: Strengthening Sustainable Supply Chains and Export Readiness 

• Accelerate ESG adoption and non-financial reporting across export-oriented industries. 

• Expand capacity-building programmes for companies and suppliers throughout value chains. 

• Improve access to financing for sustainability and ESG-related investments, including supplier development initiatives. 

• Strengthen circular economy practices, recycling systems, and efficient resource use across industrial sectors. 

• Support the development of sustainable logistics and transport infrastructure, particularly rail transport solutions. 

• Encourage stronger integration of local suppliers to reduce exposure to international supply-chain disruptions. 

• Increase support for supplier education regarding sustainability requirements imposed by international markets. 

• Integrate sustainability awareness throughout all levels of formal education. 

 

Workshop: Expanding Access to Sustainable Finance 

• Expand access to green finance through concessional loans, guarantee instruments, blended finance schemes, and grants. 

• Strengthen companies’ ESG governance, reporting systems, and sustainability measurement capacities. 

• Increase technical assistance and advisory support for companies preparing green and sustainability-related investment projects. 

• Develop a national green taxonomy aligned with European frameworks while reflecting domestic economic realities. 

• Promote greater use of capital-market instruments and alternative financing mechanisms for sustainable investments. 

• Support ESG education and awareness-building among businesses, particularly SMEs. 

• Encourage companies to view ESG implementation as a strategic investment in competitiveness, resilience, and long-term growth. 

 

Panel: Strengthening the Institutional and Regulatory Framework 

• Strengthen regulatory predictability and institutional capacity to support sustainability and competitiveness. 

• Expand renewable energy deployment, energy-efficiency measures, and decarbonization investments. 

• Accelerate digital transformation through wider adoption of digital public services, interoperability tools, and innovation-support mechanisms. 

• Enhance collaboration between government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, and development partners. 

• Support SMEs through financial instruments, technical assistance, and capacity-development programmes. 

• Align national reforms with European sustainability and competitiveness requirements.