Published 04-02-07
Submitted by International Finance Corporation
LONDON - April 2, 2007 - The Financial Times and IFC today announced the short list of banks nominated for the 2007 FT Sustainable Banking Awards. Selected from 151 entries representing more than 100 banks in 51 countries, the diverse nominees reflect the rising importance of sustainable banking around the world, especially in the emerging markets.
The FT and IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, created the awards to recognize banks that have shown leadership and innovation in integrating social, environmental, and corporate governance objectives into their operations.
The judging panel, which includes leading figures involved in sustainable finance and development, met last week in London to short-list banks for each of the five categories of awards. For the first time, the awards also highlight regional leadership under the Emerging Markets category. The 2007 nominees are:
Sustainable Bank of the Year (5 nominees)
Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year (8 nominees "“ two for each region)
Sustainable Bankers of the Year (5 nominees)
Sustainable Deal of the Year
Achievement in Carbon Finance
The judging panel will meet again in June to pick the winners in each category. Winners will be announced at a special dinner at the Landmark in London on June 7. A major conference on sustainable banking, addressing the views of banks, their stakeholders, and civil society, will take place earlier in the day.
Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times, commented: "The impressive short list reflects the diversity of financial institutions entering the 2007 awards, and we hope the continued growth of this program brings more attention to the issues of sustainability in finance and sparks further discussions on how banks around the world can advance in this area."
"Consideration of sustainability issues by financial institutions is now moving into the mainstream," said Lars Thunell, head of IFC. "The number of entries to this competition and the quality of the short list show that more and more banks see the benefits of integrating sustainability into their business."
The judging panel includes leading figures involved in sustainable finance and development:
Leading consultancy Sustainable Finance Ltd. are technical advisers on the awards.
For further information on the awards programme and the conference, please go to www.ft.com/sustainablebanking or contact:
Azmar Sukandar, Financial Times, Hong Kong, +852 2905 5519
azmar.sukandar@ft.com
Lucie Giraud, IFC, Washington, DC, +1 (202) 458-4662
lgiraud@ifc.org
The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, is the largest multilateral provider of financing for private enterprise in developing countries. IFC finances private sector investments, mobilizes capital in international financial markets, facilitates trade, helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to businesses and governments. From its founding in 1956 through FY06, IFC has committed more than $56 billion of its own funds for private sector investments in the developing world and mobilized an additional $25 billion in syndications for 3,531 companies in 140 developing countries. With the support of funding from donors, it has also provided more than $1 billion in technical assistance and advisory services.
More from International Finance Corporation