KSA Business: Mena green finance issuance ramps up in 2021 – Gulf Digital News

KSA Business: Mena green finance issuance ramps up in 2021 – Gulf Digital News

The Mena region’s syndicated market for green and sustainability-linked bonds and loans continued to deepen and mature in 2021 as total issuance reached $18.64 billion, compared with $4.5 billion in 2020, a report said.



After a strong first half ($6.9 billion), total issuance surged by 70% in the second half of 2021 ($11.74 billion) to complete a record year, according to data from Bloomberg’s Capital Markets League Tables.



The Mena region outpaced global growth in 2021, although the market still only accounts for a small fraction of international volumes. Total global issuance of green and sustainability-linked bonds and loans in 2021 increased to $1.62 trillion, compared with $765 billion in 2020.



The size, quantity and transparency of Mena issuance increased in 2021 as more participants entered the market and implemented dedicated sustainable finance frameworks. Riyad Bank, National Bank of Kuwait and Qatar National Bank were among the regional participating banks that joined First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Emirates NBD and Saudi National Bank in committing towards ESG debt financing in 2021.



2021 also saw a number of landmark transactions, including a first green loan by Egypt of $3 billion, following a green bond issuance