HSBC has dominated the environmental, social and governance (ESG) space for many years, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East. There are many reasons why it deserves to be named the best bank in the region for sustainable financing.
Firstly, it is a clear leader in the table, ranked number one in the award period in all green, social and sustainable links.
Second, there is always a chosen coordinator, bookkeeper, arranger or advisor when governments, financial institutions and corporations are busy in the sustainability space. In October 2021, HSBC was joint ESG structuring bank and joint ESG coordinator on Etihad Airways’ $1.2 billion sustainability-related revolver, the largest offering of its kind in the airline’s history; and on Gulf International Bank’s $625 million sustainability-related debut facility, which was completed the same month.
Third, it is the top of the food chain in space, advising governments as they transition to cleaner, greener economies. HSBC is one of the few banks with a dedicated head of climate change and a team of 30 who can have that high-level conversation with customers.
