Digital Inclusion Bond
Digital Inclusion Bond is one of the social bonds by SMBC Group, and the proceeds will be used for projects to develop digital infrastructure and expand digital services mainly in emerging countries. The "digital divide" in which many people, especially in emerging countries, cannot access the Internet and basic digital services due to a lack of communication infrastructure and devices is contributing to serious poverty and inequality and perpetuating them. Through the issuance of Digital Inclusion Bond, SMBC Group will support the expansion of digital infrastructure and services, and contribute to the resolution of poverty and inequality which is among SMBC Group’s one of the material issues need to be addressed.
Social Finance Framework
SMBC Group issues social bonds and executes social loans and manages them based on Social Finance Framework in accordance with “the Social Bond Principles” published by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), “the Social Loan Principles” published by the Loan Market Association (LMA), the Asia-Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA), and the Loan Syndications & Trading Association (LSTA), and “the Social Bond Guidelines” published by the Financial Services Agency of Japan, and the "Guidebook to Digital Inclusion Bond Financing" published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Among the social finance provided by SMBC Group based on this framework, some may be referred as “Digital Inclusion Bonds” or “Digital Inclusion Loans” where the proceeds of such social financing allocated to social eligible projects for the development of essential digital infrastructure and expansion of digital services mainly in emerging countries.
| Issuer | Framework | Opinion |
|---|---|---|
| SMFG, SMBC | SMBC Group Social Finance Framework |
SMBC Group Social Finance Framework Opinion |
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