BIDV secures a $250 million sustainable loan

On April 13, BIDV, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), JICA, the Government of Canada and other partners, announced the successful mobilization of a mid-to-long-term sustainable loan totaling USD 250 million. The loan is a syndicated facility with participation from ADB, JICA, the Government of Canada, and a number of Taiwanese banks (Taipei Fubon, Cathay United Bank, CTBC), with ADB serving as the lead arranger. The loan is formed from a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable finance between BIDV and ADB signed during COP28. As of March 2026, BIDV had completed the drawdown. The funds are expected to be allocated to priority sectors such as sustainable agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women-owned enterprises and micro-enterprises. According to BIDV representatives, the successful issuance demonstrates the bank’s ability to meet international financial institutions’ evaluation standards. A portion of the loan package includes a $20 million concessional grant from the Canada Climate and Nature Fund for the private sector in Asia (CANPA). CANPA, established in 2024 and managed by ADB, has Canada government commitments totaling CAN$360 million. Representatives at the loan announcement ceremony. Photo: BIDV Mr. Jim Nickel, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam, described the cooperation as reflecting the deepening Canada–Vietnam relationship and contributing to priorities such as climate change response, inclusive growth, and stable development in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at the ceremony, Le Ngoc Lam, BIDV’s General Director, said the loan will help the bank timely deploy concessional funds to sustainable development priorities in line with government directions. “This cooperation is especially meaningful as Vietnam enters a new path of sustainable and more inclusive growth, built on pillars such as private sector, green economy and circular economy,” Lam said. According to participants, green agriculture and private-sector development in Vietnam remain priority areas in the country’s development strategy, though they pose risk for commercial banks. Bhargav Dasgupta, Deputy Chairman of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said the transaction helps strengthen the ADB-BIDV relationship and advance sustainable finance, aligning with Vietnam’s net-zero emission goals. “The combination of commercial financing and concessional funding, together with technical assistance and international know-how, will help BIDV deploy loan proceeds to eligible customers and projects, expanding financing for agriculture and moving toward a sustainable economy,” an ADB representative said. Founded in 1957, BIDV is one of Vietnam’s largest commercial banks, with 175 branches and 927 domestic transaction offices, plus one branch and four representative offices overseas. By the end of 2025, the bank had assets of about VND 3.26 quadrillion, serving more than 22 million individual customers and 500,000 enterprises, and cooperating with more than 2,300 financial institutions in 178 countries and territories worldwide. BIDV’s green lending stood at over VND 82,000 billion, about 3.5% of total loans, focused on renewable energy projects, sustainable agriculture, and environmentally friendly infrastructure. ADB, by contrast, is a multilateral development bank established in 1966 with 69 members, aimed at promoting sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region.