Halkbank, one of the Main Partners of COP31 hosted by Turkey in Antalya, continues to expand its sustainability support for SMEs. Combining its services in this field under one roof, the Bank implemented the "SME Sustainable Transformation Package" worth 100 billion TL, partly supported by KGF.
The package, created specifically for COP31 around 3 main financing axes: environmental, social and economic, brings together a total of 31 loan and support products. The package, which offers different maturities and favorable interest conditions, aims to support the transformation processes of SMEs with financing solutions tailored to their needs.
Stating that they aim to contribute to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in this context, Halkbank General Manager Recep Süleyman Özdil said, "We are increasing our financial support in areas such as renewable energy, low-carbon production, circular economy, energy and resource efficiency. We are demonstrating our determination in this field with a concrete step with the 100 billion TL SME Sustainable Transformation Package that we have implemented specifically for COP31. In line with financial inclusion, tradesmen and SMEs, especially young and female entrepreneurs, will have access to finance." "We will prioritize," he said.
“WE AIM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF OUR BUSINESSES”
Touching on the role of the new financing package in this field, Halkbank General Manager Özdil said: "With our SME Sustainable Transformation Package, we aim to contribute to our businesses' adaptation to changing conditions, increasing their competitiveness and sustainable growth. With our sensitive and innovative approach, we support not only businesses that make direct green investments, but also SME suppliers that play an important role in the transformation of large-scale companies and exporting sectors. Thus, we focus not only on the volume of financing but also on the impact it will have."
Emphasizing the importance of sustainable financing in banking activities, Recep Süleyman Özdil said, "We offer financing opportunities in a wide range of areas, from the establishment of renewable energy facilities to increasing energy efficiency, from recycling waste to protecting water resources and developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. We do not limit our financial support only to environmental investments, we also consider social development as an important part of our approach. Our contribution to green transformation and social development has reached 424 billion TL by 2026. This amount includes the total cash "It constitutes 16 percent of our loans," he said.
Reminding that they have made direct investments in the field of renewable energy, Recep Süleyman Özdil said: "In the past weeks, we gave the good news of the storage solar power plant to be established in Karaman by our subsidiary Halk Elektrik Üretim AŞ. We aim to produce renewable energy in an amount corresponding to the annual electricity needs of approximately 120 thousand households with our 100 megawatt (MW) capacity power plant. Our project will prevent 175 thousand tons of carbon emissions per year and provide environmental benefits equivalent to the annual carbon sequestration of approximately 3 million trees." We also foresee that it will create
Stating that they support their efforts towards green transformation with products and projects, Recep Süleyman Özdil continued as follows: "We reflect our environmentally friendly banking approach to our financial products with Paraf Doğal, Turkey's first carbon neutral credit card. We support initiatives operating in the fields of renewable energy, green technologies and sustainability with our programs such as the Producing Women Competition, HackAntarctica, Jet Luck, BİGE and HUBrica."
HALKBANK WILL SHARE ITS SUSTAINABLE FINANCE EXPERIENCE AT COP31
Expressing that they find it very important that COP31, one of the most important climate meetings in the world, takes place in Turkey, Recep Süleyman Özdil said, "As Halkbank, we are proud to be among the Main Partners of such a comprehensive summit and to support the global role undertaken by our Country." he said.
Halkbank will take an active role in the thematic panels to be held during COP31, of which it is one of the main partners. Bank; It will share its knowledge in many areas, from climate finance to renewable energy, from corporate risk management to inclusive growth, with the national and international public.
In the 'Financing the Future: Sustainable Finance, Transformation and Inclusive Growth' session to be held in the Blue Zone within the scope of the summit, the role of the financial sector in the transformation process and the responsibilities it can assume for a sustainable future will be discussed.
In the Green Zone, topics such as sustainable energy, gender equality, financial impacts of climate risks and financing of green transformation will be evaluated in panels titled 'From Megawatt to Megavalue', 'Empowerment of Women' and 'How Does Climate Risk Enter the Balance Sheet?'
