The EKG Forum for Responsible Business has started in Nizhny Novgorod.

      October 17, 2025 12:20 Economics NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Maria Orlova Nizhny Novgorod became the venue for the joint EKG forum (18+) of responsible business and the sustainable development forum "SO.ZNANIE". The event brought together representatives of the authorities, business and the expert community from two federal districts — the Central and the Volga — to develop practical solutions in the field of sustainable development, social responsibility and business reputation. A correspondent from NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" was present at the event on October 17.

      Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin noted the symbolism of holding the joint forum precisely in a region with rich traditions of responsible entrepreneurship. According to him, the Nizhny Novgorod Region both historically and in modern times pays great attention to responsible business and to encouraging it to implement state policy and its own internal corporate standards of social responsibility.

      The forum is discussing the national rating "Ecology-Personnel-State" (EKG), which evaluates companies by the level of environmental responsibility, treatment of employees and interaction with the state. As Gleb Nikitin noted, the EKG platform allows flexible integration into business assessments of the most topical tasks set by the president and dictated by the current situation. The governor emphasized that the Nizhny Novgorod Region became the first region of the Volga Federal District to adopt a law on the development of domestic business. According to him, regional businesses are already actively using the EKG standard for self-assessment and development.

      "EKG is a universal tool that allows companies to compare themselves with others, understand how socially oriented their policies are, and receive incentives from the state. It is not just a rating, but a mechanism for forming a new corporate culture," he said.

      Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Central Federal District Artur Niyazmetov added that special attention in the rating is given to demographic initiatives — they can earn up to 40 out of 160 points.

      He noted that demography is a key challenge that business faces. A shortage of personnel is becoming a serious constraint on growth, and companies are forced to compete for employees, which increases costs.

      "We often hear the question: why are there so many points for demography in the EKG rating? The answer is simple: the economy does not work without people. If you don't think a generation ahead, the situation will only get worse," Niyazmetov said.

      He also reminded that the idea of EKG arose as an attempt to create a domestic standard for assessing business reputation based on national values. Unlike Western ESG approaches, EKG takes into account business contributions to solving demographic problems, territorial development and support for people.

      "We have digitized 95% of Russian business, including individual entrepreneurs. This allows not only to measure but also to support responsible companies — regardless of their size," he emphasized.

      The forum includes sessions dedicated to supporting responsible business, demographic policy and effective communication with society. Participants are discussing what support measures the state is ready to offer companies that contribute to achieving national goals.

      The forum will conclude with an awards ceremony for the leaders of the EKG rating of the Volga Federal District. Organizers are confident that the merging of the two forums will mark the beginning of a new practice of interregional cooperation and strengthen the role of business in the country's social development.

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