HSBC strategic partner for first-ever Sri Lanka ESG Summit by Daily FT-Colombo Uni. MBA Alumni Association

 HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor (left) and University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association President Boshan Dayaratne shake hands during the strategic partnership to the ESG summit organised by Daily FT and the University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association. University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association Vice President Vidushan Premathirathe looks on - Pic by Ruwan Walpola

The first-ever Sri Lanka Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Summit for the year 2022 is scheduled to take place on 31 March at the Shangri La Hotel organised by the MBA Alumni Association of the University of Colombo and Daily FT.

HSBC joins the forum as the strategic partner. “HSBC recognises the importance of ESG and as part of our strategy, we have committed to aligning our balance sheet to become net-zero by 2050 and support our customers to transition to a low carbon future and accelerate new climate solutions and inspire our customers to invest to support positive change. 

“We have been in Sri Lanka for 130 years and as the leading international bank, we have the utmost pleasure in supporting the Sri Lanka ESG Summit - 2022 as its strategic partner,” stated HSBC Sri Lanka and the Maldives CEO Mark Surgenor.

HSBC’s experts on ESG, Head of Climate Change Centre of Excellence and Global Head of ESG Research Wai-Shin Chan and Head of Sustainable Finance, Commercial Banking Asia Pacific Jasmine Ling will also join the session on Sustainable Finance.

Ministry of Environment Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe will be the distinguished Chief Guest of the forum and will also deliver the Keynote address.

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) join as knowledge partners.

University of Colombo MBA Alumni Association President Boshan Dayaratne said the ESG Conference 2022 plans to analyse UNSDGs from a business perspective. The forum will include three sessions namely Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and Sustainable Finance.

Each session will consist of a keynote presentation and panel discussion. The forum is set to feature prominent speakers and panellists from both Sri Lanka and overseas.

Further, Dayaratne said, on the ESG and SDG front the forum will cover how corporates can contribute to meeting the UNSDGs.

Speakers and panellists will aim to share insights with examples of how companies can do business responsibly and then pursue opportunities to solve societal challenges through business innovation and partnerships. 

Global examples will be used to explain the notion with relevance to emerging markets such as Sri Lanka.

Project Chair Vidushan Premathirathne said the sustainable finance session aims to shed light on how sustainable finance will help ensure that investments support emerging market economies such as Sri Lanka, and how a sustainable recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic can be attained through sustainable financing.

The session also aims to elaborate on how private investment can be channelled into a climate-neutral, climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and fair economy, as a complement to public money. Insights will also be shared on how corporates in Sri Lanka can be eligible for suitable finance by meeting investment criteria.

Please contact 0770113737 or email [email protected] for further details.