AIX expanded the range of responsible financing products by introducing ESG-Labelled Bonds

Astana International Exchange (‘AIX’, ‘the Exchange’) is pleased to announce that from 5 December, 2022, the range of responsible financing products on AIX is expanded by introducing a new chapter to the AIX Business Rules on issuance and listing of ESG-Labelled Bonds using “open architecture” structure. This structure gives flexibility to issuers to attract responsible financing for their sustainability-linked projects through a wider range of instruments under internationally recognized standards. The ESG-Labelled Bonds may include social and sustainable and other ESG-labelled bonds such as blue bonds, transition bonds and sustainability-linked bonds on AIX.

Evgenia Bogdanova, Head of Regulation and Compliance of AIX, commented:

“Whilst the international sustainable finance market continued development during 2021-2022, AIX observed a higher demand for responsible investment instruments in the AIFC. As the sustainable finance market has and will continue to evolve, driven by market and regulatory developments, we have decided to introduce the new ESG-Labelled Bonds structure in the AIFC that will help our issuers to raise investments for their sustainability-linked projects in a flexible way.”

Asel Nurakhmetova, Deputy CEO of AIFC Green Finance Centre commented:

“We see the demand from the business for the new products that are not limited to green bonds. The creation of an ESG segment on AIX will allow issuers and investors to expand their funding opportunities for their projects and improve their performance in a mid-term and a long-term period with regard to the energy transition and climate agenda, as well as to create a manouvre for attracting sustainable investments through other instruments, which are widely represented in developed markets.”

The ESG-Labelled Bond categories are published on the AIX website in the Rules & Regulations section.

Reference:

AIX was formed in 2017 within the Astana International Financial Centre development framework. AIX shareholders are AIFC, Goldman Sachs, the Shanghai stock exchange, the silk Road Fund, and NASDAQ, which also provides the AIX trading platform. The exchange operates within a regulatory environment based on the principles of English Law, thus providing a reliable investment environment. The mission of AIX is to develop an active capital market in Kazakhstan and the region by providing clear and favorable conditions for attracting financing to private and public businesses. AIX develops special segments for mining companies as well as infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road initiative. More details: www.aix.kz

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction that started operations in 2018. In accordance with the Development Strategy until 2025, the key focus of the AIFC is to consolidate as a universal platform connecting the countries of the EAEU, Central Asia and the Caucasus. www.aifc.kz