How Beeline Uzbekistan introduces ESG

For companies operating under modern standards with employees, clients, and partners, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles are becoming fundamental to their activities. Adopting environmental care, social responsibility, and high-quality governance as official policies, formalised at the shareholder and executive management levels, transforms the way companies function. Beeline Uzbekistan demonstrates how to successfully implement these practices.

Decade ahead

“If a company enters the market seriously and for the long term, it will inevitably invest, directly or indirectly, in sustainable development,” says Andrzej Malinowski, CEO of Beeline Uzbekistan. “The key is to implement ESG projects that align with the company’s values, resonate with its employees, and appeal to its service users.”

Beeline Uzbekistan focuses on two core areas: enhancing IT literacy among the country’s population and supporting women who aspire to showcase their talents in advanced digital technologies. Both initiatives extend far beyond the interests of a single company.

“Our IT programmes align with Uzbekistan’s national strategy, Uzbekistan-2030, which aims to create a national pool of specialists in a country where over 50% of the population is under 30 years old. Meanwhile, our support for women’s leadership corresponds with the global trend towards gender equality, which is particularly vital for Central Asian countries,” said the head of Beeline Uzbekistan. “Implementing ESG principles is not about isolated projects but a systematic, complex, and long-term effort that allows us to plan five to ten years ahead. However, the results are worth it. Our employees live and work in Uzbekistan, raising their children here. Thus, we can and must contribute to improving life in the country, creating the future we envision. ESG principles help us bring that future closer.”

Talents for digital transformation

One of Uzbekistan’s most ambitious national projects is transforming the country into an international IT hub. Beeline Uzbekistan supports this initiative through its own educational and social projects.

In 2023, state-of-the-art computer science laboratories were established at the Tashkent International University of Education (TIUE). The launch of Beeline Academy involved an investment of $150,000. By 2024, 110 secondary school teachers specialising in computer science and information technology in Tashkent had completed professional development courses at the academy. Participants gained programming skills in Python, learned 3D graphics tools, and studied the basics of frontend development. These educators are now transferring their newly acquired knowledge and skills to their students, while the project continues to enrol new groups of school teachers to enhance their qualifications at Beeline Academy.

Another significant initiative for the company and the IT sector is its grant programme supporting talented young professionals in information and cybersecurity. In 2023, the digital operator awarded 50 grants worth 1.2 billion sums to young men and women seeking to upgrade their skills at the Astrum IT Academy. Following a competitive selection process, grant recipients from various regions of Uzbekistan were trained to identify hackers’ «traps» and effectively counter attacks on computer systems. As an added incentive, those who successfully completed the courses were offered internship opportunities at Beeline Uzbekistan.

This project is particularly important as Uzbekistan undergoes extensive digital transformation. The demand for professionals who can ensure the security of digital assets for companies and government institutions continues to grow.

Women enter IT for long term

The company upholds principles of equal access to education and career opportunities for both women and men across all fields, including advanced technology. In line with this commitment, Beeline Uzbekistan supported the international startup exhibition, Tumaris.Tech Expo, which marked the culmination of the year-long Central Asian programme, Tumaris.Tech. This initiative was organised by IT Park Uzbekistan and achieved notable results: 113 women-led startup projects were implemented, 68 prototypes were developed during the Tumaris.Hack hackathon, over 200 women completed IT courses, and more than 70 participants learned the fundamentals of smart investing. The creators of 17 top startups from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan presented their projects to experts and investors.

Despite the diversity of topics—ranging from healthcare to NFTs—the projects shared a common focus on social significance and solving specific societal challenges. The importance of this initiative was recognised in November 2023 when Beeline Uzbekistan received an award from AmCham Uzbekistan.

Towards the end of 2023, Beeline Uzbekistan supported the first Women’s Leadership Award, First Among Equals, organised by the business publication Kursiv. The company also held a large-scale hackathon, attracting 500 young women developers from across Central Asia.

In March 2024, Beeline Uzbekistan sponsored Women in Tech, a leading international organisation promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equality in STEAM fields. The organisation’s mission is to bridge the gender gap and empower women in technology. Sofia Gainutdinova, Beeline Uzbekistan’s HR and Organisational Development Director, joined the organisation’s board in Uzbekistan.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

Beeline Uzbekistan upholds the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusivity at all levels—from fostering a supportive work environment for employees to launching initiatives like delivering SIM cards to individuals with disabilities nationwide. The company’s internal culture was designed to reflect the multinational composition of its team and the diversity of its workforce in terms of gender and age.

Beeline Uzbekistan’s commitment to quality and responsible management, transparency in procurement processes, and anti-corruption measures aligns with its ESG strategies. These efforts have positioned the company as a leader in advancing Uzbekistan’s social development, as recognised by international experts. In 2024, Beeline Uzbekistan was shortlisted for the prestigious CIPS Excellence in Procurement & Supply Awards in the category Outstanding Diversity and Inclusion Practices in Procurement Teams. Being one of the top three finalists and the only participant from Central Asia represents a significant achievement. Furthermore, Beeline Uzbekistan became the first company within the VEON group to receive a nomination for this award.

Go green

For several years, Beeline Uzbekistan has transitioned its internal processes to electronic document management systems to minimise paper consumption. The company’s offices are equipped with containers for collecting used batteries, which are subsequently sent for recycling. Additionally, Beeline Uzbekistan runs the Go Green project, where corporate volunteers engage in activities such as waste collection in the capital and regions and planting trees along city streets. For instance, last year, volunteers collected 600 kilograms of litter left by visitors at Charvak. This autumn, they undertook plogging—a combination of jogging and litter collection—at the Tashkent Botanical Garden. The team also regularly organises Donor Days at the office. Recently, 21 litres of blood were donated to a transfusion station.

Beeline Uzbekistan actively shares its ESG practices with the business community. In July, Shahlo Usmanova, Senior Manager for CSR and ESG Projects at Beeline Uzbekistan, participated in an ESG forum organised by Kursiv. She presented the company’s initiatives and discussed the improvement of ESG indicators across VEON Group companies during a strategic session on communications in sustainable development.