Dhaka, July 21, 2025–Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a pioneer in gender-lens investing, and BRAC EPL Investments Limited, a leading investment bank in Bangladesh, have announced a strategic partnership to to jointly develop and promote the ecosystem for Orange Bond, Orange Sukuk, and other thematic sustainable finance instruments in Bangladesh. Drawing on IIX’s international expertise and BRAC EPL Investments’s deep-rooted market leadership, the partnership is expected to develop sustainable financial markets in Bangladesh, driving gender equality, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.

With Bangladesh’s transition to a middle-income country status expected by 2026, the nation stands at a pivotal point of development, with challenges arising from a reducing access to concessional capital, preferential debt, and aid. The impact of this may be particularly pronounced on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and critical community-focused businesses and projects, including women-led SMEs, which contribute approximately 27% to the nation’s GDP. Enhanced global and domestic investments in gender economic empowerment and equality will be critical for ensuring a resilient and inclusive transition.

Orange Bonds, symbolising the colour of UND SDG5: Gender Equality, are the world’s first cross-cutting asset class designed to unlock international capital to support key sector value chains, such as Agriculture, Ready-made Garments (RMG), financial services, Infrastructure, and the MSMEs 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 and Sukuk in Bangladesh, IIX and BRAC EPL Investments will collaborate on several fronts, including supporting the readiness of potential bond issuers, coordinating domestic and international investor outreach, engaging with regulators to foster a supportive investment environment, advising on complementary thematic financial instruments (e.g., green, social, and sustainability), providing technical and advisory assistance, and raising awareness and engagement.

Prof Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and CEO of IIX, said: “Bringing Orange Bonds and Sukuk 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 mobilizing significant international and domestic capital towards gender and climate outcomes, the Orange instruments will drive systemic change for a more inclusive and sustainable future for Bangladesh while developing the nation’s capital markets for sustained access to market-based financing”

Syed Rashed Hussain, CEO of BRAC EPL Investments, added: “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.”

This landmark partnership between IIX and BRAC EPL Investments marks a critical step toward positioning Bangladesh as a regional leader in sustainable finance and thematic bonds. The collaboration will unlock new pathways for channeling capital toward women, women-led enterprises, and underserved communities, ensuring the country’s transition to middle-income status becomes a springboard for sustainable and equitable growth.