Business programme

Responsible Finance as a Point of Synergy for Issuers and Investors when Tapping International Capital Markets

03 Jun , 11:00–12:15
Joining Forces to Advance Development
Pavilion G, conference hall G5
In partnership with Gazprombank

The transformation of the global economy to a low-carbon model will require substantial funding, which has been estimated at USD 120 trillion. At the same time, another transition is under way, whereby ESG principles are forming a key component of investment projects. It is a model that is becoming increasingly interesting to investors and borrowers, and the ESG bond market is growing rapidly. The global market is already worth USD 1 trillion, making it bigger than the Russian debt and equity markets combined, and it has the potential to grow tenfold by 2025. International standards and a financial infrastructure have been put in place, and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) are set to be toughened in 2021–2022. This will lead to an increase in the proportion of assets being managed according to compulsory ESG principles from 50% to 90% (or USD 90 trillion). This will only serve to increase the flow of investment in responsible finance tools. As things stand, the Russian economy is not able to comply with strict green standards, and the country’s public institutions and businesses are therefore faced with the challenge of overhauling their strategies. If they do not do so, the risk of becoming less competitive and more restricted as a result of a range of consequences (such as the EU’s carbon tax) is very real. Moreover, the Russian market is limited in terms of potential finance. What needs to be done to prepare for and comply with the new reality, given that only a few players have full access to the tools provided by the international market?

Moderator
Jean-Claude Knebeler, Head of Sustainable Development Department, International and Comparative Law Research Center (ICLRC)

Panellists
Julie Becker, Chief Executive Officer, Luxembourg Stock Exchange
Nikolai Zelenski, Chief Executive Officer, Nordgold
Igor Marich, Managing Director for Sales and Business Development, Moscow Exchange
Alexander Machkevitch, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Eurasian Resources Group S.a.r.l. (ERG)
Peter Lloyd O'Brien, Member of the Management Board, Managing Director for Economics and Finance, SIBUR Holding
Vladimir Potapov, Chief Executive Officer, VTB Capital Investments; Senior Vice President, VTB Bank
Ilya Rebrov, Deputy General Director for Economics and Finance, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM
Timothy Talkington, Co-head, Russia & CIS, Goldman Sachs
Grace Hui, Head of Green and Sustainable Finance, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) (online)
Alexander Sharabaika, Member of the Management Board, Deputy General Director for Finance and International Projects, PhosAgro
Denis Shulakov, First Vice President, Gazprombank

Front row participants
Sachin Vankalas, General Manager, Luxembourg Finance Labelling Agency (LuxFLAG)
Natalia Gerashchenko, Managing Director, Partner, Head of Financial Sector Expertise in Russia and CIS, BCG
Alexander Pumpyanskiy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Joint-Stock Commercial Bank of Support to Commerce and Business
Roman Serov, Chief Executive Officer, RSHB Asset Management
Ekaterina Trofimova, Partner, Deloitte CIS

Broadcast