Jakarta. Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodari voiced strong support for the 2025 ESG Appreciation event held by B-Universe on Thursday, saying the initiative underscores the growing importance of environmental, social, and governance standards for the future of business in the country.

Speaking at the ceremony at Hotel Mulia Senayan in Jakarta, Qodari said ESG principles are becoming essential for corporate resilience and long-term sustainability in Indonesia, and he commended B-Universe for promoting them through the annual awards.

“We at the Presidential Staff Office highly appreciate B-Universe for initiating and pioneering ESG, because it is very important for the continuity of companies and businesses in Indonesia,” Qodari told Beritasatu.

Carrying the theme “Building Sustainability Together”, the event highlighted how ESG frameworks have become a guiding compass for companies navigating both current challenges and future corporate landscapes. Qodari said ESG should become mainstream in Indonesia’s business ecosystem across all sectors.

Reflecting on Indonesia’s socioeconomic conditions and President Prabowo Subianto’s recent remarks, Qodari floated a new idea: shifting ESG to “SEG” --Social, Environmental, and Governance. The proposed reordering places the social dimension first, which he argued is more urgent in Indonesia’s present context, while still maintaining environmental and governance priorities.

“How this idea will be implemented, I leave to B-Universe. But I will begin advocating for this shift from ESG to SEG, because in my view, it is highly relevant to the current situation,” he said.

He added that ESG, whether in its traditional or reordered form, has become indispensable at a time when relationships between governments, corporations, and communities are increasingly interconnected.

The ESG Appreciation 2025 awards recognise companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to ESG practices and aim to motivate more organizations to adopt robust sustainability standards. Awards were given across eight categories: Environment & Sustainability, Social & Circular Economy, Governance & Transparency, Eco-Innovation, Community Empowerment, Social Innovation, Certified Governance, and Governance Training.

Assessment for the awards relied on both qualitative and quantitative research conducted by Datasatu.com, BeritaSatu editors, and an independent team led by Jerry Marmen. The evaluation process involved collecting secondary data --including sustainability reports, corporate publications, and media sources-- to shortlist nominees based on key indicators: E (energy efficiency, green innovation), S (community empowerment, social impact), and G (transparency, sustainable operations, and human capital development).