Amid the bustling activity of today’s corporate landscape, nestled in the timeless city of Bangkok, two titans of commerce have clasped hands in a gesture that signifies more than just business acumen—it heralds a pioneering step towards a greener tomorrow. Enter Mr. Tan Choon Hin, the charismatic President and CEO of UOB Thailand, and the esteemed Mr. Aswin Techajareonvikul, Executive Vice Chairman of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited (BJC)—two leaders whose recent collaboration has sent ripples of excitement through both financial and environmental sectors.
In a dazzling display of both fiscal sagacity and ecological responsibility, BJC, the ASEAN powerhouse in realms ranging from manufacturing and packaging to retailing and distribution of consumables, has inked an awe-inspiring $200 million sustainability-linked loan and derivative combination courtesy of UOB. This isn’t just any monetary maneuver; it’s a direct tie-in to BJC’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Risk Rating prowess, an area in which they’ve soared to the apex of the global stage within the Food & Staples Retailing industry, courtesy of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), not once but twice on the trot. Here we see finance and sustainability skipping hand in hand on a journey towards an awe-inspiring net-zero carbon goal set for mid-century.
It was with a visionary twinkle in his eye that Mr. Aswin elaborated on BJC’s modus operandi, “At the heart of BJC lies a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of economic prosperity and the upliftment of community life quality. We stand firm in the face of climate adversities, championing sustainable initiatives such as the embrace of solar-powered solutions, the prowess of Artificial Intelligence to enhance energy efficiency, and the introduction of eco-concious shopping solutions like our plastic-reducing shopping baskets at Big C.”
Not just content with leading by example, BJC has once again trumped its own sustainability record with a triumphant hattrick in the DJSI for Emerging Markets and a pinnacle-reaching global rating in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for 2023. It’s an unprecedented score that history will remember, further fueling their drive towards a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions future, a quest in perfect harmony with UOB’s own sustainability symphony that orchestrates a crescendo of support for eco-minded entrepreneurs.
Mr. Tan Choon Hin, the steward at the helm of UOB Thailand’s eco-endeavors, added, “As the winds of change blow, policymakers and eco-conscious consumers are steering the ship towards increasingly green practices. It’s a privilege to ally with BJC, as we both craft and raise the sail that will guide our industries towards more sustainable horizons. It’s our honor to stand beside BJC on this pivotal voyage, offering the first financing and derivatives that are intricately linked to tangible ESG performance targets.”
With nostalgia laced within his visionary outlook, Mr. Aswin reminisced about BJC’s roots, stretching back to the venerable year of 1882, “Sustainability isn’t a new chapter in our story; it is our story. Today’s stride into sustainability-linked finance broadcasts our continuous evolution in enriching lives while crafting value for every individual in our vast family of stakeholders. This bold step reaffirms our enduring legacy as a conscientious and progressive entity. Moreover, since 2022, BJC has robustly sustained the credit line for such futures-forward financial ventures, with our total investment currently blooming beyond 16,650 million baht.”
And then, with the poise of a sage, Mr. Aswin added a final note that resonated with profound resonance, “BJC Big C Group doesn’t merely aspire to be a bastion of commerce; we are here to counter global warming—one algorithm, one solar panel, one reduced-plastic shopping basket at a time. It’s an embodiment of our unwavering commitment to the trifecta of responsible business: environment, society, and governance. We navigate not by the stars of profit alone, but by the constellations of sustainable development that light our way.”
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