Paula Silvestre, Director of the Competitiveness and Training Area at AEP (Associação Empresarial de Portugal), gave an interview to Executive Digest in which she addressed the growing importance of ESG in the Portuguese business context. According to her, when ESG comes to be understood as a management tool, it becomes a lever of competitiveness for companies.
The interview focuses on the influence that ESG is having on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in terms of access to financing. Paula Silvestre explains that the adoption of environmental, social, and governance practices is becoming a determining factor for financial institutions in risk assessment and credit granting.
Beyond financing, the Director of AEP highlights that ESG is also shaping MSMEs' access to markets and supply chains. Companies that do not adopt sustainable practices increasingly face difficulties in establishing commercial partnerships and in meeting the requirements demanded by large companies and international markets.
The article highlights the need for Portuguese MSMEs to integrate ESG into their management strategy to remain competitive, emphasizing that the transformation of ESG from a mere regulatory obligation into a management tool can constitute a significant strategic advantage for these companies.
