Banks and the Private Sector Learn How to Invest in the SDGs

The State Bank for Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan, UK Embassy and United Nations are hosting a workshop on Impact Investment financing for Sustainable Development Goals. The workshop has appealed to around fifty representatives of the bank system and the private sector in Yyldyz hotel.

The workshop is led by Mr. Peter Vanderwal, Founder and Executive Director of Stratigos. Stratigos is the world's leading consulting company in results-oriented finance, private finance, and public-private partnerships. Mr. Vanderwal is assisted by Ms. Elina Jarvela, from UNDP Regional support center in Istanbul, who is coordinating the Regional project on alternative financing, supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovakia.

“The State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan seeks to provide comprehensive assistance and support to achieve the Sustainable development goals. We implement several new projects using a new partnership approach to financing development projects that maximize both domestic and international funding through grants, loans, direct investment and other innovative sources”, stressed Mr. Rakhimberdy Jepbarov, Chairman of the Board of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs.

The participants were introduced to innovative methods of financing and attracting investments with a focus on blended finance and investment to achieve Agenda 2030. They further discussed the role of the private sector, the state and dual investors.

“I hope this seminar will serve as a platform that will lead to a new cooperation for more people and business community through introducing generally accepted standards of sustainable development and make the SDGs a part of your business”, noted Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, while welcoming the workshop's participants.

This workshop is being co-funded by the British Embassy in Turkmenistan. The idea to hold this seminar came as a result of the recommendations shared during “Partnership for Financing Development in the Heart of the Great Silk Road”, the first international conference on financing in Ashgabat, held in June 2018, to expand the range of financial instruments, including the use of innovative methods of mobilizing financial resources from the private sector.