Press Release

BRAC EPL Investments and Impact Investment Exchange Forge Strategic Partnership to Develop Bangladesh’s First Orange Bonds and Drive Inclusive Growth

BRAC EPL Investments and Impact Investment Exchange Forge Strategic Partnership to Develop Bangladesh’s First Orange Bonds and Drive Inclusive Growth

Dhaka, July 21, 2025– BRAC EPL Investments Limited (BEIL), a leading investment bank in Bangladesh, and Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a global pioneer in gender-lens investing, have entered into a strategic partnership through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and promote Orange Bonds and other thematic impact-investment instruments in Bangladesh. This collaboration will combine BEIL’s deep market expertise and regulatory understanding with IIX’s international leadership in innovative finance to support Bangladesh’s transition toward inclusive, sustainable growth

With Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status expected to be finalized in 2026, the nation stands at a pivotal point of development, with challenges from loss of preferential trade terms, concessionary finance, and aid. Impacts may be particularly pronounced among SMEs, including women-led SMEs, which contribute approximately 27% to the nation’s GDP. Global and local investments in gender economic empowerment and equality in the SME sector will be critical for ensuring a resilient and inclusive transition. 

Orange Bonds are the world’s first cross-cutting asset class designed around gender equality and are one option for channeling investments to the SME sector in Bangladesh. The bonds are guided by the Orange Bond Principles™, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and comply with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, and Sustainability Bond Guidelines.

To develop and promote Orange Bonds in Bangladesh, BEIL and IIX will collaborate on several fronts, including supporting the readiness of potential issuers, coordinating domestic and international investor outreach, engaging with regulators to foster a supportive investment environment, advising on complementary thematic impact-investment instruments (e.g., green, social, and sustainability linked bonds), providing technical and advisory assistance, and raising awareness and engagement.

Syed Rashed Hussain, CEO of BRAC EPL Investments, said: “As a climate-vulnerable nation with a significant number of SME and women-led enterprises, Bangladesh can benefit from Orange Bonds, sustainable bonds, and other impact-investment instruments. Supportive policies and regulations, a strong impact ecosystem, and the involvement of key stakeholders can help attract global impact investors, fund inclusive growth, and unlock greater value for Bangladesh.”

Prof Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX, added: “Bringing Orange Bonds to Bangladesh is not just about innovative finance, but represents a powerful driver for empowering women and communities and transforming entire underserved sectors in the country. By laying the foundations for mobilizing global and local capital towards high-potential enterprises in the gender and climate spaces, we will drive systemic change for a more inclusive and sustainable future for Bangladesh.”

This landmark partnership between BEIL and IIX marks a critical step toward positioning Bangladesh as a leader in impact investments. By pioneering Orange Bonds and other impact-investment instruments, the collaboration will unlock new pathways for channeling capital to women-led enterprises and underserved communities, ensuring the country’s graduation from LDC status becomes a springboard for sustainable, equitable growth.

About BRAC EPL Investments

BRAC EPL Investments Limited (BEIL) is a leading investment bank in Bangladesh owned by BRAC Bank PLC and BRAC. BEIL has over two decades of experience in the Capital Market and is renowned for its innovative investment banking transactions. In line with our vision to provide innovative, pioneering and world-class sustainable investment banking solutions, BEIL worked as the Issue Manager in the first IPO of a greenfield company; the first IPO with a green shoe option; the first IPO under the book building method; and the first power sector Bond IPO. In addition, BEIL was the Arranger for raising the syndicated working capital facility for the first PPP project in Bangladesh. As a proud member of the BRAC family, we firmly believe in sustainable business practices and processes. In our understanding, profit and growth are not sustainable in the modern world without taking care of the environment, community and society first.

About IIX

Since 2009, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) has been a pioneer in the global impact investing movement, reshaping finance for sustainable development with a focus on gender equality and climate action through capital mobilization and data-driven solutions. From establishing the Impact Partners™ platform and creating the Women's Livelihood Bond™ Series, (which includes seven publicly listed bonds), to launching the Impact Institute™ and Research & Advisory, our work spans 60 countries where we have mobilized nearly US$500 million in private-sector capital, positively impacted over 160 million lives, avoided more than 1.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions, and collected over 90,000+ data points on sustainable micro, small, and medium enterprises.