Latest news with #SustainableBanking
Zawya
24-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Standard Chartered launches UAE's first sustainable escrow and account bank solution
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Standard Chartered announced today the launch of the UAE's first Sustainable Escrow and Account Bank solution, allowing clients to embed sustainability into their cash management strategies. The new solution enables funds held in escrow or designated accounts to be directly referenced against the Bank's portfolio of eligible green and sustainable loans and projects, as defined under its Green and Sustainable Product Framework. The UAE launch marks a significant step in expanding the Bank's sustainable transaction banking capabilities, in line with growing client demand for innovative, impact-driven financial solutions. The offering is now available across the UAE, including through the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), as well as in the UK. Sandrine Jourdainne, Global Head, Deposits, Liquidity and Escrow Solutions, Standard Chartered, said: 'The UAE has firmly positioned itself as a leader in sustainability, with a strong commitment to advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy. As one of the country's most established international banks, we are proud to support this vision by delivering solutions that help clients embed sustainability into their core financial activities.' She added: 'Our new Sustainable Escrow and Account Bank solution provides a transparent, credible way for clients to align their liquidity with sustainable outcomes. It's a practical example of how we are contributing to the country's sustainability agenda while supporting businesses in achieving their long-term objectives.' As an independent Escrow Agent and/or Account Bank, Standard Chartered holds deposits and ensures alignment with its sustainability-linked product suite. Funds are earmarked against verified projects and initiatives that meet globally recognised environmental and social criteria, giving clients greater transparency, accountability, and alignment with their ESG ambitions. The new offering further expands Standard Chartered's leadership in sustainable transaction banking, which already includes ESG-linked cash account, sustainable account, sustainable trade finance, and sustainable trade loan for financial institutions. This launch reinforces the Bank's commitment to supporting the UAE's sustainability agenda and enabling clients to transition towards a low-carbon economy through practical, scalable tools. For more information, visit the Bank's sustainability webpage: -Ends- For further information please contact: Khaled Abdulla, CFA® Director, Head of Communications Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing United Arab Emirates About Standard Chartered We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world's most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Al Bawaba
22-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Standard Chartered: 'UAE Leads Key Markets in HNW Allocation to Sustainable Investments'
Standard Chartered announced today the launch of its latest Sustainable Banking Report 2025 titled 'Transition investing: the next wealth frontier?'. The report, which explores investor sentiment around transition investing , reveals that high-net-worth investors surveyed in the UAE allocate 27 per cent of their portfolios to sustainable investments, the highest among all eight markets surveyed. In addition, 87 per cent of UAE investors are interested in transition investing, broadly in line with the global average, according to the survey. The findings are based on a survey of high-net-worth individuals across the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Mainland China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. It explores how investors are approaching the shift to a low-carbon economy and identifies the opportunities and challenges associated with transition investing. Commenting on the report, Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered, said: 'The findings reaffirm the UAE's leadership in sustainable finance, with UAE high-net-worth investors allocating the highest share of their portfolios to transition investments across all surveyed markets. This growing momentum supports the country's Net Zero 2050 vision and reflects a broader shift towards low-carbon, future-focused investment strategies. At Standard Chartered, we are committed to enabling this transition by providing the insights and solutions that help investors capitalise on emerging opportunities and contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable economy.' The UAE's strong allocation is mirrored in the specific investment themes gaining prominence across the country. UAE investors are particularly focused on high-impact investment themes that align with the UAE's energy diversification goals and broader climate commitments. Green hydrogen (51%), carbon markets (48%), and carbon capture and storage (47%) emerged as the most compelling areas of interest, reflecting a growing focus on real economy solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon future. While investor appetite is strong, the research identifies key barriers slowing broader capital deployment into transition strategies including higher risks (45%) and limited access to credible products (36%). These findings suggest that unlocking further capital will depend on building trust, enhancing product transparency, and improving access to well-structured solutions. Although interest in the UAE and other surveyed markets is high, the research also reveals a broader knowledge gap. Only a small proportion of global investors (15%) were able to clearly define the concept of transition investing before being presented with a formal definition and examples. This highlights the ongoing need for investor education and clearer market guidance. To help bridge this gap, Standard Chartered has launched a Transition Investing Guide designed to support clients in assessing credible opportunities and contributing meaningfully to the global transition.
Zawya
22-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Standard Chartered: UAE leads key markets in HNW allocation to sustainable investments
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Standard Chartered announced today the launch of its latest Sustainable Banking Report 2025 titled 'Transition investing: the next wealth frontier?'. The report, which explores investor sentiment around transition investing [1], reveals that high-net-worth investors surveyed in the UAE allocate 27 per cent of their portfolios to sustainable investments, the highest among all eight markets surveyed. In addition, 87 per cent of UAE investors are interested in transition investing, broadly in line with the global average, according to the survey. The findings are based on a survey of high-net-worth individuals across the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Mainland China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. It explores how investors are approaching the shift to a low-carbon economy and identifies the opportunities and challenges associated with transition investing. Commenting on the report, Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered, said: 'The findings reaffirm the UAE's leadership in sustainable finance, with UAE high-net-worth investors allocating the highest share of their portfolios to transition investments across all surveyed markets. This growing momentum supports the country's Net Zero 2050 vision and reflects a broader shift towards low-carbon, future-focused investment strategies. At Standard Chartered, we are committed to enabling this transition by providing the insights and solutions that help investors capitalise on emerging opportunities and contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable economy.' The UAE's strong allocation is mirrored in the specific investment themes gaining prominence across the country. UAE investors are particularly focused on high-impact investment themes that align with the UAE's energy diversification goals and broader climate commitments. Green hydrogen (51%), carbon markets (48%), and carbon capture and storage (47%) emerged as the most compelling areas of interest, reflecting a growing focus on real economy solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon future. While investor appetite is strong, the research identifies key barriers slowing broader capital deployment into transition strategies including higher risks (45%) and limited access to credible products (36%). These findings suggest that unlocking further capital will depend on building trust, enhancing product transparency, and improving access to well-structured solutions. Although interest in the UAE and other surveyed markets is high, the research also reveals a broader knowledge gap. Only a small proportion of global investors (15%) were able to clearly define the concept of transition investing [2] before being presented with a formal definition and examples. This highlights the ongoing need for investor education and clearer market guidance. To help bridge this gap, Standard Chartered has launched a Transition Investing Guide designed to support clients in assessing credible opportunities and contributing meaningfully to the global transition. -Ends- Khaled Abdulla, CFA® Director, Head of Communications Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing United Arab Emirates About the Sustainable Banking Report 2025 The Sustainable Banking Report 2025 surveyed high-net-worth individuals with assets under management of USD1 million or more across eight key markets – Hong Kong, India, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. A total of 1,600 respondents, aged 25 to 66 years old, participated in the survey in Q4 2024. Transition Finance at Standard Chartered We align ourselves to our Transition Finance Framework, which sets out the assets and activities that qualify under a 'transition' label when we undertake Transition Finance. Our Transition Finance Framework defines Transition Finance as any financial service provided to clients to support them aligning their business and / or operations with a 1.5-degree trajectory and is informed by the 2023 International Energy Agency Net Zero Emissions 2050 scenario. Standard Chartered We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world's most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. [1] Transition Investing is a sub-set of Sustainable Investing. It refers specifically to investing with the ambition of supporting and enabling the transition to a low carbon economy. This expands impactful investments to those outside of traditional climate solutions (e.g. renewable energy), to include companies in high-carbon sectors which have credible plans to align or maintain alignment of their business with a net zero trajectory. This can include organisations in sectors such as steel, and cement, but also companies which enable the transition of these sectors (e.g. scrap steel producers). [2] Survey respondents were first asked an open-ended question on what they think transition investing is about before they were presented with a definition and examples.
