The second session of the Knowledge Session Series on “De-risking and Leveraging Finance” with experts on innovative financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

We successfully hosted the second session of the Knowledge Session Series on “De-risking and Leveraging Finance” with experts on innovative financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The session explored a range of global and regional examples on how de-risking mechanisms have leveraged finance including private capital towards sustainable development.  These include SDG One Indonesia and Shangdong, China example where public funds are used for de-risking, the case of Thailand where de-risking has been applied in the issuance of green bonds; incentive-linked concessional finance structures, including debt-for-nature swaps; and the use of annuity-type models for de-risking public-private partnerships (PPPs), such as those implemented in India

The expert presentations were delivered by Anouj Mehta, Country Director of the ADB Thailand Resident Mission and former Head of the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, Sandy Ewart, Team Leader of ADB’s Bio-Circular Economy Technical Assistance Project in Thailand and Kosintr Puongsophol, Senior Financial Sector Specialist at the Economic Research and Development Impact Department of the ADB.

The session was attended by members of the Blended Finance Working Group, which include  representatives from key government institutions such as the Department of National Planning, Department of Development Finance, Department of External Resources, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Board of Investment, Ministry of Environment, and the Securities and Exchange Commission,  private sector representatives from the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association, Finance Houses Association of Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and other partner agencies including ADB Sri Lanka Office, UN Resident Coordinator Office Sri Lanka,  UNDP Sri Lanka Office and Connect to Care.

The Session was moderated by the Director General of Sustainable Development Council, Chamindry Saparamadu.