Emerging Markets ESG: Emerging Markets ESG is dedicated to the analysis, benchmarking, development and promotion of reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) indicators in emerging markets.

“Kenya’s first green bond starts trading on the bourse” – Reuters – January 13, 2020

By Geoffrey on January 13, 2020

On January 13, 2020 Reuters reported that “Kenya’s first green bond was listed for trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange on Monday, offering investors the chance to put money into an environmentally-friendly fixed income security for the first time in the bourse’s 65 year history.

The bond, worth 4.3 billion shillings ($42.5 million), was issued by Nairobi-based property developer Acorn Holdings last October to build student accommodation.

‘Our capital markets, our investors and indeed our government have started to take climate change seriously,’ said Kiprono Kittony, a member of the board of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).”

According to the article, the issue raised 4.3 billion shillings in October 2019 and the green bond is to be listed on the London Stock Exchange next week.

You may read the article on the Reuters internet site.

“Sukuk market prepares for new phase of growth – NASDAQ Dubai” – Salaam Gateway – December 23, 2019

By Geoffrey on December 23, 2019

On December 23, 2019 Salaam Gateway published an article about the sukuk market. The article was produced and sponsored by NASDAQ Dubai.

“The emergence of Sukuk that meet Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria is a notable and welcome feature of the market. Nasdaq Dubai listed its first green Sukuk in February, in the form of two instruments of 1.25 billion US dollars and 750 million US dollars issued by the government of Indonesia for projects including sustainable development initiatives. This was followed by Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim listing the world’s first benchmark corporate green Sukuk of 600 million US dollars in May. With investors around the world increasingly prepared to pay a premium for ESG-compliant assets, more Sukuk issuers are likely to join the sector. Nasdaq Dubai is well placed to support such a trend with its strong links to international investors, backed by the Green Bond Best Practice Guidelines issued by its regulator, the DFSA.”

You may read the article on the internet site of Salaam Gateway – the Global Islamic Economy Gateway.

The article was first published in the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2019/20 report produced by DinarStandard and supported by the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre.