(11 January 2019) Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE), the second largest stock exchange in Central and Eastern Europe by market capitalization and liquidity, signed a commitment to promote sustainability and transparency in its market, making it the newest member of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative. Through dialogue with investors, issuers, regulators and policy makers, the exchange will help its market to contribute to tackling the 21st century’s most pressing sustainability challenges.

“Budapest Stock Exchange is highly committed to sustainability in the broadest sense of the word. In 2018, we again renewed our corporate governance recommendations, which have been guiding Hungarian enterprises in balancing the interests of the company, its shareholders, and other relevant parties for the past 15 years. BSE’s mission also includes strengthening the values of long term thinking and transparency in Hungarian medium sized enterprises through attracting them to the capital market. The Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative will play an important role in driving our sustainability agenda,” Richárd Végh, the Chairman and CEO at Budapest Stock Exchange said.

The SSE works with stock exchanges through research, consensus building and technical assistance to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to stimulate investment for a sustainable future.

More than 80 stock exchanges around the world have partnered with the SSE to work towards a common objective of fostering financial markets that support the growth of sustainable and responsible business practices.

The Budapest Stock Exchange creates a platform for Hungarian companies to grow and prosper. It’s mission includes providing small and medium sized firms with expertise and financial support needed to join the stock exchange, as well as improving the financial culture in our society.