Standard Chartered Bank has arranged the first Green Zero-Coupon Bond in Bangladesh for Sajida Foundation.
The proceeds of the bond will be utilised to finance lending to different environmentally friendly and energy efficient initiatives of the micro-credit and SME clients of Sajida Foundation. The total face value of the bond is Tk 1,000 million, according to a press release.
The announcement was made at a ceremony arranged at the head office of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission.
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam was present as chief guest
Chief Executive Officer of Sajida Foundation Zahida Fizza Kabir, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh Naser Ezaz Bijoy were present among others.
Sajida Foundation will use the proceeds to finance expansion of their microcredit and SME lending portfolio, through investing in new and existing projects with environmental benefits.
The issuance of this security will provide Sajida Foundation with an alternative source of fund, compared to a conventional term loan.
Standard Chartered was the mandated lead arranger for the transaction.
Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Chairman Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam said that Green bonds have the potential to become powerful financial tools in creating positive climate action for Bangladesh, with the growing demand for investments addressing climate risks.
“We commend Sajida Foundation and Standard Chartered for leading the way for green finance in the MSME sector, setting a milestone in the development of vibrant green bond market in Bangladesh.”
Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh Naser Ezaz Bijoy said that Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress over the last decade. Yet, to achieve its collective ambition of transforming into a high-income country by 2041 while building resilience to climate change and other delta challenges, more of business-as-usual will not be enough.
“Green finance holds verdant possibilities for the next phase of our growth journey,” he said.
Standard Chartered is leading the debt capital market in Bangladesh as well as an acknowledged global leader in Asia, Africa and Middle East.
Since pioneering in 1997, the capital markets unit of Standard Chartered Bank has put together over USD 7.00 Billion equivalent local and foreign currency syndicated loan/debt facilities in Power, Telecommunication, Infrastructure, Food & Beverage, Textile, Service and other key sectors.
Source: United News of Bangladesh