In conversation with Sohail Sultan, Chairman, iibGroup

Joseph Giarraputo, Founder and Editorial Director of Global Finance, talks to Sohail Sultan, Chairman, iibGroup, about the bank’s wide-ranging sustainability initiatives and how they have shaped the institution’s identity and culture.

Committed to serving as a sustainability leader in the community, iib’s sustainability initiatives span multiple sectors. In healthcare, for example, the bank has run blood donation campaigns and supported oncology services. iib’s educational programsincludes partnering with the British Foreign Office to sponsor post-graduates for UK education as well as sponsoring technology upgrades and providing digital media solutions for corporate employees. 

For the environment, iib has led numerous programs that preserve and protect natural spaces and reduce the carbon footprint, including mangrove restoration tobeach clean-ups and tree planting. 

Financial inclusion is another key driver for iib. Across East Africa, the bank conducts grassroots campaigns on responsible saving and borrowing, while also providing access to credit. Digital-first products are part of the offering in a bid to make banking affordable and accessible in underserved communities.

iib also leverages its role as an intermediary to drive green and blue financing in emerging markets – for renewable energy and low-carbon infrastructure via green bonds, and ocean conservation and coastal resilience via blue bonds. To further connect international capital and embed climate responsibility in growth strategies, iib supports sustainable trade corridors across Africa, South Asia and the Caribbean.

Watch this video to learn more about what sustainability means to iib, and how the bank pursues this mission to show that social returns matter as much as financial ones.