Taipei Exchange Attended ICMA Annual Conference to Deepen International Connections and Enhance Market Visibility

To deepen international connections and enhance international visibility of Taiwan's sustainable bond market, Taipei Exchange (TPEx) Deputy CEO Ms. Flora Lee led a delegation from the Bond department to Brussels, Belgium from May 22nd to 24th, 2024, to attend the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Annual Conference. The delegation engaged in discussions with international financial institutions on promoting experiences and the latest trends in the sustainable bond market, aiming to align Taiwan's market with international dynamics and actively attract foreign issuers to issue sustainable bonds in Taiwan.

TPEx stated that the ICMA Annual Conference brought together representatives from 427 institutions, including market regulators, issuers, intermediaries, and professional investors from 47 jurisdictions, totaling over 1,100 participants. The discussions covered a wide range of topics, including international market trends and prospects, FinTech and digitalisation, the future of sustainable finance and the challenges of transition. Representatives from participating institutions engaged in extensive discussions and exchanges of views. By actively participating in international organization activities, TPEx hopes to strengthen its connection with the international market and enhance the international exposure of Taiwan's market.

To assist hard-to-abate sectors in transitioning towards net-zero emissions, TPEx is currently exploring the feasibility of establishing a transition bond mechanism in Taiwan. Therefore, taking the opportunity of this conference, TPEx held discussions with ICMA, the Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA), and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB) to share the development of Taiwan's sustainable bond market and exchange insights on the market promotion and practical approaches for transition bonds. TPEx also participated in the roundtable forum " Japan Climate Transition: The Frontier with Finance" to gain in-depth understanding of the successful experience of Japan's climate transition bonds, which will serve as a reference for the future planning of Taiwan's transition bond mechanism.

TPEx is committed to the development of sustainable finance in Taiwan. As of May 24th, 2024, a total of 209 sustainable bonds have been issued in Taiwan, with a total issuance amount reaching NTD 600.29 billion. This indicates that sustainable bonds have become a powerful financing tool for issuers in Taiwan to demonstrate their commitment to ESG and sustainable development to the market. Looking ahead, TPEx will continue to track international trends in the sustainable bond market. By expanding and completing the product range of sustainable bonds, TPEx aims to create a more internationally competitive sustainable bond market, making sustainability a new value for Taiwan.