Today at JSC «Development Bank of Kazakhstan» (subsidiary of JSC «NUH «Baiterek») ESG-seminar was held, the central theme of which was exchange of experience on integration of ESG-principles into the Bank’s activities and its borrowers. The event was also attended by representatives of the Holding «Baiterek» and the Bank’s subsidiary JSC «Industrial Development Fund».
The participants discussed the implementation of sustainable development principles in the financial sector, international initiatives and global trends in ESG, as well as regulatory expectations in this area.
Dina Zhanadil, Managing Director of DBK, told about the important steps taken by the Bank to promote the ESG agenda. Thus, as early as in 2019, the Sustainable Development Policy was adopted, in 2022 – the ESG criteria for the evaluation of investment projects, and in 2023 – the ESG Road Map to 2026, the new Bank Development Strategy to 2033 and the ESG Risk Management Concept.
Also last year, DBK was one of the first in Kazakhstan to receive ESG-rating and held two listing of «green» bonds on the KASE and AIX platforms to finance «green» projects. The placement of securities on the AIX site was the first issue of «green» bonds, which was the first in Central Asia to be certified to international standards of Climate Bonds Initiatives.
Note that the total volume of approved and funded renewable energy projects in the Bank’s portfolio by January 1, 2024 amounted to 542 million dollars. A number of RES projects, including wind, solar and hydropower, are under consideration.
Another important direction in the implementation of ESG-principles is corporate and personnel management. Thus, DBK implements effective internal communication for staff understanding of the importance of ESG, as well as programs of training and development of employees with the principles of sustainable development.
The event was an important step towards better understanding and integration of ESG-principles into the activities of companies. Such events confirm the DBK’s commitment to sustainable development and show that joint efforts can lead to significant progress in this direction.
Speakers from the Bank were also the Director of the Department of Big Data Strategy and Analysis Perizat Omarova, Director of the Department of Funding and International Cooperation Adina Berikyzy, Head of the Department of Technical Analysis Alim Kzylbayev, Senior bankers of the Directorate for Client Relations Tulegen Karenov and Balzhan Esenbayeva, Director of the Human Resources Management Department Aliya Tynybayeva, Chief Risk Manager of the Financial Risk Management Department Timur Bizhanov, General Manager of Technical Analysis Nazgul Zeinullina and Big Data Strategy and Analysis Department Manager Sanimai Itabaeva.
