Impact Investment Exchange and City Bank Capital Resources partner to advance Orange Bonds in Bangladesh

Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and City Bank Capital Resources Limited (CBCRL) have announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and promote Orange Bonds, Orange Sukuk and other thematic sustainable finance instruments in Bangladesh.

The collaboration brings together IIX’s global experience in gender-lens investing and impact structuring with CBCRL’s domestic capital markets presence and investor access. The two organisations aim to mobilise capital for inclusive and resilient growth, particularly as Bangladesh transitions towards developing nation status and concessional finance is expected to decline.

According to the partners, diversified market-based capital will be essential to support micro, small and medium enterprises and women-led businesses that drive employment and economic inclusion. Orange Instruments, including Orange Bonds™ and Orange Sukuk, are aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and are designed to channel domestic and international capital towards gender-focused and climate-aligned outcomes across sectors such as agriculture, financial services, infrastructure, manufacturing and MSMEs. These instruments are guided by the Orange Bond Principles™ and aligned with international sustainable finance frameworks.

Under the partnership, IIX and CBCRL will collaborate on issuer readiness through structuring and advisory support, engage domestic and international investors, work with regulators and ecosystem stakeholders, advise on complementary thematic bonds and Sukuk, and promote market awareness and education.

Professor Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX, said bringing Orange Bonds to Bangladesh was about mobilising global capital towards gender equality, climate action and economic resilience, adding that partnerships with capital market institutions would be critical to accelerating systemic change.

Md Sohel Haque, Managing Director and CEO of City Bank Capital Resources Limited, said the collaboration aims to scale sustainable finance in Bangladesh and unlock capital for SMEs and women-led enterprises.

As Bangladesh prepares to graduate to developing nation status, the partnership positions IIX and CBCRL to support a shift towards market-driven development finance, beginning with issuer readiness, investor engagement and regulatory dialogue for future Orange Bond and Sukuk issuances.