Dr. Ruchi Dana Highlights ESG and Sustainability-Linked Finance at NBF Knowledge Series

Dubai, UAE – 23rd April 2025 — On 22nd April 2025, the NaGonal Business Forum (NBF) hosted a compelling edi3on of its Knowledge Series, spotligh3ng the cri3cal theme: Sustainability in Supply Chains – Your Experience in Rolling Out ESG Disclosures from Your Suppliers and Awareness Levels Among SMEs.

The high-impact panel featured leaders from Petrochem Middle East FZE, Stanford Marine, Monjasa, and DANA Group, highlighting a wide range of experiences and approaches to embedding sustainability and ESG standards across complex supply networks.

Dr. Ruchi Dana, board member of DANA Group, contributed her expertise to the panel, addressing both the challenges and the progress made by industry players in fostering ESG compliance across their supplier bases.

“At DANA Steel, sustainability is a strategic priority—not a side project,” Dr. Dana shared. “We’ve worked consistently to integrate ESG expectations into our supplier contracts and capacity-building programs. While many SMEs are still catching up, we’ve seen that with the right education and support, adoption rates can be encouraging.”

 

She also reiterated DANA Steel’s longstanding commitment to sustainability, among its proactive steps such as:

• Rolling out Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for galvanized and pre-painted steel coils
• Installing a 1.2 MW solar energy system in one of its Dubai Industrial City facilities
• Implementing hydrogen-based fuel technology pilots to reduce logistics-related emissions
• Recycling metal scrap into protective coil edge packaging, reducing waste and cost

The event was a melting pot of insights from leaders driving ESG integration in shipping,  petrochemicals, trading, and manufacturing sectors. Attendees shared strategies, policy implications, and real-world case studies to improve ESG alignment across global supply chains.

The panel concluded with a call for deeper collaboration, greater policy clarity, and the development of more inclusive ESG frameworks that can support SMEs while maintaining accountability.