Citi promotes social finance funding

Citi promotes social finance funding

Citi expects social finance funding in Asia to increase by over 10 per cent in 2025, with increases expected in social trade loans, securitisations, co-financing partnerships with development agencies, term loans, revolving working capital facilities, and IPOs.

"The pipeline is across markets, products, and different sectors. We are also seeing increasing investor demand for access to invest in social finance. It is increasingly becoming a key asset class," said Jorge Rubio Nava, global head of Social Finance at Citi.

Citi-led social finance transactions raised over $2 billion across Asia in 2024. These were seen in areas such as microfinance, food security and sustainable agriculture systems, healthcare, education, infrastructure and digital connectivity, and affordable housing for underserved and low-income communities.

"We are confident that we can grow this further in 2025, supporting our clients on their journeys towards sustainable growth in their local economies," added Jorge.

Citi led a total 76 transactions across Asia last year, mobilising $2.4 billion in funds - over half of the bank’s total transactions and more than 40 per cent of its total funds, making Asia the bank’s largest region for social finance.

VIR