Mysuru: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru Zone, hosted the highly anticipated Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Conference and Expo 2025, themed “Driving Sustainable Transformation: Aligning Business with Sustainability.”

The event, held in collaboration with the CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, JSS Science and Technology University and the Schevaran Cleanfix Academy, emerged as a significant platform for driving conversations around ESG strategies in the region.

In his inaugural address, Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, Executive Secretary of JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru, underscored the critical role of ESG principles in shaping organisational strategies, particularly in environmental conservation and restoration.

Dr. A.N. Santosh Kumar, Vice- Chancellor of JSS STU and Sohanjeet Randhawa, Director – Sustainability at Volvo Group India, shared insights into the evolving ESG landscape and global best practices.

Nagaraja Gargeshwari, Chairman of CII Mysuru Zone, emphasised the importance of sustainability as a core business strategy, noting that it has moved beyond being a compliance requirement.

He reaffirmed India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. “We are not merely discussing sustainability — we are building it, brick by brick, enterprise by enterprise,” he stated.

Sam Cherian, Past Chairman of CII Mysuru Zone, set the tone for the event by describing ESG as a vital business imperative. He highlighted the nationwide shift toward mandatory ESG disclosures through the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) and lauded the contributions of MSMEs to this evolving landscape.

C.P. Ganapathy, Convenor of the HSE & Wellness Panel, CII Mysuru Zone, shared critical insights on the integration of ESG across sectors, revealing that only 37 percent of Indian companies have fully embedded ESG into their operational and strategic frameworks, indicating vast opportunities for                            collective action.

With over 150 delegates from various sectors, including manufacturing, services, academia, and sustainability consultancies, the event marked a significant step toward mainstreaming ESG in the region.