The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) have partnered to promote and develop socially responsible capital markets through investments in IDB Social Bonds focused on Education-Youth-Employment (EYE).
IDB Social (EYE) Bonds foster human capital development from the classroom to the workplace. The funds raised through them will finance projects in Latin America and the Caribbean that promote effective teaching and learning for children and youth, giving them skills needed to enter the labor market and contribute productively to society.
“We are honored to partner with GPIF to further the development of socially responsible investments. The collaboration between GPIF and IDB integrates social aspects into fixed income investments to support IDB in improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Mrs. Claudia Bock-Valotta, the IDB’s Vice President for Finance and Administration.
Mr. Hiro Mizuno, Executive Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of GPIF, said he was honored to take part in the IDB’s “life cycle” approach to solving challenges of poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean through commitments in improving the quality of children’s education and providing greater employment opportunities.
“GPIF requires our asset managers to integrate ESG into their investment analysis and decision-making. We regard the purchase of Green, Social and Sustainability Bonds as one of the direct methods of ESG integration in the fixed income investment,” Mr. Mizuno said. “GPIF looks forward to working together on this initiative.”
The IDB issued its inaugural Social (EYE) bond in September 2014. Since then, the IDB has issued a total of $2.2 billion in various currencies.
About Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF)
GPIF is the largest pension fund in the world in terms of assets under management. GPIF’s goal is to achieve the investment returns required for the public pension system with minimal risks, solely for the benefit of pension recipients from a long-term perspective, thereby contributing to the stability of the system. For more information, please visit https://www.gpif.go.jp/en/
About the Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is a multilateral financial institution supporting Latin America and the Caribbean’s efforts to reduce poverty and inequality, and to bring about development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. Established in 1959, it is the leading source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean, with a strong commitment to achieving measurable results. For more information, please visit www.iadb.org.