BNI to Focus on ESG Programs and Become an Agent of Transformation

JAKARTADAILY.ID – PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. or BNI encourages a number of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) implementation programs as a standard for sustainable company operational performance.

BNI Risk Management Director David Pirzada said the company played an important role in promoting more responsible business practices by taking into account ESG principles.

In implementing the ESG, David said BNI adhered to the 3P principles: profit, people, and the planet. BNI also continues by creating infrastructure and standards that all business lines at BNI can follow.

"Of course, we will be proactive in implementing ESG principles. BNI plays a role as one of the transformation agents in ESG implementation to support sustainable finance," he said.

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He continued that the company has also classified its green portfolio based on several categories of sustainable business activities.

"As we made in 2020, the total category of sustainable business activities from BNI's total loan portfolio is 28 percent or around Rp. around Rp 14 trillion or about 8 percent of the total CSPA,” said David.

David said that in conducting monitoring and evaluation, one of the indicators that BNI currently uses is the ESG rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI). BNI's current rating is A and is the highest rank among Indonesian Banks.

BNI also recently issued green bonds worth Rp 5 trillion which were developed based on the guiding principles in green bonds with the funds to be used to facilitate projects in the environmental business activity category.

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To assist with the transition to the carbon economy in Indonesia, BNI has also received a rating for this Long-Term Note from the Indonesian Securities Rating Company or PEFINDO for a one-year period, with AAA being the highest rating.

"So, from the book building that has been done, which has been oversubscribed 4 times, which indicates that investors appreciate BNI's commitment. So, the appreciation for BNI's commitment to sustainability finance is quite high," said David.

BNI is gradually building a portfolio, which focuses on ESG results and can improve approaches to effective ESG implementation.

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