MANZINI – Nedbank Eswatini has placed itself at the forefront of the green finance revolution, using its financial expertise to drive sustainable economic development, while safeguarding the environment.
This was evident at the Nedbank Green Finance Seminar held on Tuesday during the ongoing Eswatini International Trade Fair, where the bank expressed its commitment to accelerating climate-smart investments and supporting businesses in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Opening the seminar, Nedbank Eswatini Managing Director, Fikile Nkosi, stressed the urgency of aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship. “At Nedbank, sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility – it is a strategic imperative,” she said.
“Our commitment to green finance reflects our belief that economic progress must go hand in hand with protecting the environment and building resilience for future generations.”
Nkosi highlighted the Nedbank Green Zone, a dedicated space at the trade fair showcasing innovative climate solutions, including solar energy systems, green financing tools and entrepreneurial initiatives targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Green Zone, she noted, demonstrates the bank’s support for eco-conscious businesses and emphasises its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) industry and innovation (SDG 9) and climate action (SDG 13).
Nkosi added that collaboration between banks, government and the private sector is essential to scaling up investments in the green economy. “We need inclusive partnerships that align finance, policy and innovation to achieve sustainable growth,” she said.
Calling for action, Nkosi said: “This seminar is more than a dialogue; it is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to build a greener, more inclusive future for Eswatini and the region.”
Keynote speaker Mokgadi Maloba, Sustainability Expert at Nedbank Group, shared the bank’s continental strategy for sustainable financing. She revealed that Nedbank has channelled over R189 billion into sustainable development finance, supporting renewable energy, water management and climate-resilient agriculture across Southern Africa.
“Financial institutions hold the keys to unlocking a green economy,” Maloba stated. “By funding renewable energy projects, climate-smart agriculture and green entrepreneurship, banks like Nedbank can enable a just transition that leaves no one behind.”
Full article available in our publication.
Leave a comment