Green Financing and Investing in Asian Infrastructure

Green finance is rapidly expanding in Asia. China is the now the third largest global issuer of green bonds behind France and the US. Green debt raised by Chinese issuers rose from under $US1bn in 2015 to over $US23bn in 2016, accounting for 27 per cent of the global market. The largest issuer was the Bank of Communications, issuing $US4.3bn in green bonds last year. Other issuers have included Bank of China and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. India ranks 7th in green issuance, with Axis Bank, Greenko, Hero Future Energies, The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), PNB Housing Finance and Renew Power all raising green bonds in 2016. NTPC also issued the first green rupee Masala bond, listed on the London Stock Exchange, last year.

The use of green bond proceeds for carbon reduction energy projects is an important step towards meeting climate change targets set out in the Paris COP21 Agreement, as well as providing essential energy infrastructure for Asia. Yet the infrastructure funding gap in Asia, estimated by the Asian Development Bank to be at $US26 trillion by 2030, will need to be met with increased sovereign bond issuance, with the ASEAN region some way behind China and India in green bond issuance volumes.

The conference will explore the potential for future growth of the green bond market in Asia and how far green financing, through multilaterals, sovereigns and companies, can meet the funding needs of energy infrastructure in the region. Key areas for discussion will include:

• the use of green financing in China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia
• the opening up of China’s domestic bond markets and the opportunities foreign sustainable investment in China, including green Panda bonds
• the deployment of green capital in India’s markets through Masala bonds
• the opening up of green ASEAN markets through infrastructure programmes
• the flow of green financing from Asia into the UK and Europe
• Asian investment in European infrastructure

Speakers:

	Aida Sitdikova Director of Energy and Natural Resources, Russia, Caucasus & Central Asia, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
	Ben Powell Head of Funding, Treasury Market Operations, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
	Kiyoshi Nishimura Chief Executive Officer, Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF)
	Nick Robins Co-Director, Inquiry into the Design of Sustainable Financial System at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
	Pratik Dattani UK Director, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
	Angela Marcarino Head of Asia and Pacific Public Sector Operations, European Investment Bank (EIB)
	Ricco Zhang Director Asia Pacific, International Capital Market Association (ICMA)
	Zhiyong Yang Head of DCM, ICBC Standard Bank
	Vasuki Shastry Global Head, Public Affairs & Sustainability, Standard Chartered Bank
	Sherry Madera Special Adviser for Asia, City of London Corporation
	Rongrong Huo        Global Head of China & RMB Business, Capital Financing, Global Banking and Markets, HSBC
	Sean Kidney        CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative
	Michael Sheren       Special Adviser, Bank of England
	Naeeda Crishna Morgado       Policy Analyst, OECD

To register your interest in attending, please contact Conor Paterson at conor.paterson@asiahouse.co.uk

For Speaking and Sponsorship Opportunities please contact Paul Nicholson on 0207 307 5437 or paul.nicholson@asiahouse.co.uk