On November 4, 2025, in Riga, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM) held the international conference “Think Digital. Act Sustainable.” - focusing on the interconnection between digitalization and sustainability and the opportunities it provides. The event brought together forward-thinking professionals, policymakers, and business representatives from across the Baltic Sea region.
In addition to inspiring discussions on current trends and shared experiences emphasizing the importance of sustainability and its link to the development of the digital field, a new digital tool was introduced to help entrepreneurs assess their company’s impact on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects.
Opening the conference and expressing gratitude to everyone involved in creating the new ESG assessment tool, Minister Raimonds Čudars emphasized:
“Technology development and sustainability are closely interconnected topics. Digital infrastructure, data centers, and artificial intelligence solutions consume significant amounts of energy, yet at the same time, they provide opportunities to reduce resource consumption in other areas by optimizing processes and creating more efficient and sustainable systems. The developed ESG tool is both educational and practical, helping organizations systematically assess and shape their sustainability journey. It strengthens knowledge and understanding of sustainable development principles and helps us build a better future together.”
At the conference, the newly developed ESG assessment tool – “ESG Tool” (esgtool.eu) – was presented. It was created within the “Sustainability Reporting Tool (SusTool)” project under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. The tool allows entrepreneurs to evaluate the impact of their company’s activities on ESG aspects. During the event, participants could test the tool in practice and consult project partners about its use. The platform is available free of charge in Latvian, English, Estonian, Lithuanian, and Finnish.
Experts from Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, and Finland shared their experiences and insights at the international conference. The keynote speakers — Ilze Grase-Ķibilde ( Head of Global Business Development, Digitalisation and Compliance After Sales, Audi AG) and Jānis Palkavnieks (representative of Draugiem Group and Mentors Club) — inspired attendees with their experiences on the interaction between digitalization, innovation, and sustainable business development.
Participants also heard stories from other entrepreneurs who have integrated sustainability into their company strategies, creating added value and strengthening competitiveness through sustainable approaches.
Valuable discussions took place among Baltic Sea region industry experts and policymakers on experiences and opportunities for promoting digital and sustainable transformation. Meanwhile, financial sector representatives discussed the impact of regulations and green financing on business and the financial industry. Attendees also learned how public sector and association initiatives across the Baltic Sea region are supporting companies on this path.
The conference was organized within the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme project “Sustainability Reporting Tool (SusTool)”.