New Delhi, March 7 India's leading lender, SBI, announced on Saturday the launch of a USD 500 million syndicated term loan facility, exclusively focused on women empowerment, with a greenshoe option, on the eve of International Women's Day.
This syndicated transaction marks a significant milestone for SBI and the global ESG financing landscape, for the noble cause of women empowerment, the bank said in a statement.
This financing is aimed at accelerating social impact and demonstrates SBI's commitment to reducing the "gender gap" and contributes meaningfully to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 – "Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls."
On the occasion, SBI Chairman C S Setty said, "On this women's day, we are happy to announce that as a responsible organization, we are deeply committed to fostering women empowerment as a cornerstone of sustainable development."
This landmark social loan embodies the bank's dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with a sharp focus on creating opportunities for women, he said.
"We believe that true progress depends not only on economic growth but also on our ability to drive positive social change, empower women, and build an inclusive society for all stakeholders," he added.
This transaction is the first of its kind by SBI, aimed at supporting gender equality and inclusive economic growth, and it is expected to be the largest gender-themed loan globally, representing a landmark initiative in sustainable finance by an Indian financial institution, the lender said.
