Garanti BBVA has completed a US$30 million sustainable bond issuance aligned with the Orange Bond Principles, marking one of the region’s notable efforts to expand capital market instruments dedicated to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
The bond, issued on June 29 under the bank’s international funding program, carries a maturity of 372 days and will finance projects and initiatives designed to create measurable social impact through greater economic participation and leadership opportunities for women.
Funding Projects Supporting Women’s Economic Participation
According to Garanti BBVA, proceeds from the issuance will be allocated to activities that promote gender equality in employment and value chains, support women entrepreneurship and women-led businesses, strengthen female leadership, and improve financial inclusion for women.
The financing will also support initiatives aimed at generating measurable social outcomes in the field of gender equality, reinforcing the role of capital markets in mobilizing funding toward inclusive economic development objectives.
Aligned with International Sustainable Finance Standards
The issuance was structured in accordance with BBVA’s Sustainable Debt Financing Framework and the Orange Bond Principles developed by Impact Investment Exchange (IIX).
The Orange Bond Principles provide a framework for directing bond proceeds toward projects that generate positive outcomes related to gender equality while encouraging issuers to integrate gender considerations into investment processes, governance structures, and leadership representation.
Beyond project financing, the framework promotes diversity in leadership positions and supports the adoption of inclusive corporate governance practices among participating institutions.
Garanti BBVA Highlights Inclusive Growth Objectives
Commenting on the transaction, Garanti BBVA CEO Mahmut Akten emphasized the importance of gender equality as a key component of sustainable development and long-term economic resilience.
“Gender equality is one of the fundamental pillars of sustainable development and inclusive growth. Stronger participation of women in economic life, greater involvement in entrepreneurship ecosystems, and increased representation in decision-making mechanisms are critical not only from a social impact perspective but also for the long-term resilience of economies,” said Akten.
Akten noted that Garanti BBVA approaches sustainable finance through both environmental and social impact lenses, expanding beyond climate-related financing to support broader societal objectives.
“Through this US$30 million sustainable bond issuance, we are pleased to provide financing for projects that support women entrepreneurship, female leadership, equal opportunities in employment, and financial inclusion. Supporting gender equality through capital markets is an important part of our vision for inclusive and sustainable development,” he added.
Growing Role of Gender-Focused Finance
The issuance reflects growing momentum globally for thematic debt instruments that combine financial returns with measurable social outcomes. Orange Bonds have increasingly emerged as a financing tool aimed at channeling capital toward initiatives that reduce gender disparities and expand opportunities for women across economies and industries.
With this transaction, Garanti BBVA aims to strengthen women’s participation in economic activity, support female entrepreneurship, and contribute to broader financial inclusion efforts through targeted financing mechanisms.
Why It Matters
As sustainable finance evolves beyond environmental objectives, gender-focused financial instruments are becoming an increasingly important component of ESG and impact investing strategies. Garanti BBVA’s Orange Bond issuance highlights the growing role of capital markets in supporting social inclusion, economic participation, and long-term sustainable growth.
