Lenders root for sustainable finance at Nairobi Summit : The Standard

Leading financial and environmental institutions, United Nations, Multinationals and sustainability campaigners are gathering in Nairobi to hold the inaugural Africa Summit to accelerate green and sustainable finance. Speaking at the opening of the inaugural Summit, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Kariuki Ngari said that sustainable finance is now recognised as one of the megatrends shaping the future of global finance. “This summit marks a major milestone at a time when Kenya, and Africa continent at large, is facing continued economic and financial vulnerability, we have committed to pursue sustainable finance in our dealings across various sectors,” Kariuki said. “Financing and sustainability go hand in hand. Financial institutions were the key determinants of global capital flows. Banks have a powerful tool –financing –to promote change. We have an opportunity and obligation to leverage our banking knowledge, products and footprint to provide client solutions which not only make financial sense but also have a positive and lasting impact on our communities and environment,” he said.

SEE ALSO :StanChart rides on reduced expenses to post 5pc profit

Addressing the Summit, Standard Chartered Bank Regional CEO, Africa and the Middle East Sunil Kaushal, said working towards the prevention of climate change is estimated to cost the global economy almost US$14 trillion per year by 2100, hence the need to sensitise financiers on the need for sustainable financing. “In 2018, Standard Chartered issued the world’s first blue bond, on behalf of The Republic of Seychelles, and raised US$15 million from impact investors to finance the expansion and transition of its marine protected areas, improve governance of priority fisheries and develop its blue economy,” Kaushal said. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, (UNCTAD) while addressing the Summit said Public-Private Partnerships play an important role in ensuring sustainable financing solutions.

For More of This and Other Stories, Grab Your Copy of the Standard Newspaper.

 “Traditionally in Africa, infrastructure investments have predominantly been developed via public procurement initiatives with funding sourced partially through budgetary allocations and large-scale sovereign borrowings – the latter often on a bilateral basis. As Governments around Africa run out of sufficient borrowing capacity to meet its growing infrastructure needs and credit appetite for sovereign lending sources diminishes, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are starting to constitute an important channel to attract private sector financing into infrastructure projects. The involvement of the private sector introduces a new “commercial lens” ensuring that projects are conceived on viability and sustainable basis,” added Kituyi.  To support Transforming Africa into the next Global Growth Engine- Standard Chartered recently launched the world’s first Sustainable Deposit, dedicated to financing sustainable assets in developing countries aligned to the United Nations’ SDGs, allowing investors access to dynamic markets and giving them an opportunity to put their money into addressing some of the world’s biggest long-term social and environmental threats.

SEE ALSO :Police impostors steal Sh72m on transit to ATM

We are undertaking a survey to help us improve our content for you. This will only take 1 minute of your time, please give us your feedback by clicking HERE. All responses will be confidential.

Related Topics

Standard CharteredUNMukhisa Kituyi