UOB and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) has launched the sustainability-linked advisory, grants and enablers (SAGE) programme targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The programme aims to simplify sustainability-linked financing solutions for SMEs, providing preferential loan rates from UOB for participating SMEs that achieved pre-agreed sustainability performance targets (SPTs). It involves a collaboration with service partners CDP, Convene ESG, M1, Paia Consulting, PwC Singapore and TÜV SÜD.
Under the SAGE Programme, companies can select from three “plug and play” options of predefined, sector-specific SPTs to obtain sustainability-linked financing from UOB. These SPTs have also been validated by a Second Party Opinion partner, Environmental Resources Management, to ensure credibility and alignment with the globally recognised sustainability-linked loan principles.
The SPTs focus on three areas — reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, certification of management systems and improvement of ESG ratings.
With preferential pricing from UOB’s network of preferred sustainability partners and support from EnterpriseSG, SMEs in Singapore can defray up to 85% of the costs of ESG digital platform, advisory and assurance services for GHG inventory, certification of ISO management systems, and enhancing ESG performance disclosures to meet these SPTs.
The SAGE Programme sees an industry-first collaboration with leading industry partners to give UOB’s SME clients a seamless experience in implementing sustainability initiatives with pre-approved sustainability performance targets, says UOB group head of sector solutions group & financial institutions group Lim Lay Wah. “The one-stop access will connect them to a network of sustainability service partners to advance their green transition,” she adds.
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