Standard Chartered Bank recently published its first annual Sustainable Finance Impact Report highlighting the Bank’s contribution to tackling climate change, and financing dedicated to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report reveals the Bank’s Sustainable Assets amounting to USD3.9 billion which includes loans towards renewable energy, healthcare, and education, and microfinance and SME lending in low-income countries. It further measures the impact of the Bank’s EUR500 million Sustainability Bond issuance of July 2019.
The upgrades at the De Soysa Maternity Hospital constitute the design and construction of a modern building and the installation of upgraded medical equipment, including 40 special incubators for new-borns and training for the medical staff. Head of Financial Institutions, Standard Chartered Sri Lanka, Lakshan Goonetilleke said, “The funding of the De Soysa Maternity Hospital is directly aligned to the SDG Goal No. 3 of good health and well-being, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. We will continue to explore other avenues for financing through which we can continue to enhance Sri Lankan lives by creating a better, cleaner and safer future.
“Globally, the Bank’s focus on SME lending and microfinance is reflected in its asset base and impact. Over 20,000 SME loans have been provided to emerging markets including India, Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with the objective of driving trade and fostering their emerging economies,” he said, highlighting the direction the Bank was taking in alignment to the UNSDGs,” he said.