The first private-sector “gender” bond in the Asia Pacific region to be issued by Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri), with the support of IFC and the GoldmanSachs 10,000 Women initiative, to expand access to capital for women entrepreneurs globally. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and DEG (Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft) have agreed to subscribe to the Women Entrepreneurs Bonds to be issued by Bank of Ayudhya in the amount of up to $220 million. The pioneering investment is supported by the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility, a joint initiative of IFC and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women to expand access to capital for women entrepreneurs globally. The aim of this offering is to boost lending to women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (WSMEs) in Thailand. This will be the first private-sector “gender” bond issuance in the Asia Pacific region and the first social bond issuance in Asian emerging markets in compliance with the International Capital Markets Association Social Bond Principles and the ASEAN Social Bond Standards. Read more here.