The award marks the seventh time since 2017 that the LuxSE has been named Exchange of the Year, noted a press release from the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, published on 8 April 2024. The award from Environmental Finance’s Sustainable Debt Awards recognised the work of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in the domain of sustainable development, in particular when it comes to emerging markets, gender finance and sustainable finance.
“Contributing to closing the gaps in financing for sustainable development in emerging markets and gender equality were key drivers for the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in 2023, shaping many of the initiatives we implemented, the securities we displayed and cooperations that we entered into,” commented , CEO of the LuxSE. “Addressing these gaps will play a key role in defining whether the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and by the UN SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] are met or missed and so it is an honour to have our efforts in these areas recognised once more by Environmental Finance.”
Gender, education and sustainable bonds
The LuxSE’s platform for sustainable finance, the Luxembourg Green Exchange (LGX), had more than 60 gender-focused bonds as of the end of 2023, including the first gender bond from Sub-Saharan Africa issued by NMB Bank Plc in Tanzania, which aims to provide women in Tanzania with financing to start or grow their own business.
In terms of education, LGX training sessions on sustainable finance took place in China, the Ivory Coast and Sri Lanka in 2023, noted the press release. The LuxSE also co-organised the International Finance Corporation’s Green Bond Technical Assistance Programme late last year, which brought together nearly 30 senior bankers from around 20 emerging economies to promote the supply of sustainable bonds in new markets.
As of 31 January 2024, the Luxembourg Green Exchange counted . Established by the LuxSE in 2016, it has 1,900 sustainable bonds from 300 issuers in 60 countries.
Environmental Finance’s Sustainable Debt Awards, previously known as the Environmental Finance Bond Awards, recognises institutions that support the development of the sustainable debt market. The awards, which are determined by an independent panel of judges, cover more than 60 categories, from green bonds and social loans to awards for innovation and investor of the year.
The full list of winners can be found .