The program is funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and is part of the ADB's TA10094-VIE technical assistance: Promoting Inclusive Finance and Climate Finance for the Vietnamese government. The consulting firm implementing the program is PwC Vietnam.

This program aligns with ABBank's long-term strategy of encouraging sustainable development initiatives and adhering to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. The bank aims to drive innovation in green finance while enhancing social responsibility to the community and corporate clients.

ABBank launches the "Enhancing Green Banking Capacity" program, funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction through ADB and implemented by PwC. Photo: ABBank

ABBank launches the "Enhancing Green Banking Capacity" program, funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction through ADB and implemented by PwC. Photo: ABBank

Implemented with technical support from ADB, PwC, and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), the program focuses on strengthening ABBank's green finance capacity. One key area is developing green financial products and services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly women-owned or -led SMEs (WSMEs).

The project helps ABBank assess gaps in green banking implementation, including compliance with domestic and international sustainable finance standards, developing information disclosure reports that meet current requirements, and strategically developing green financial products. WSMEs will be a focus as part of the effort to promote gender equality and inclusive development.

PwC will collaborate with ABBank to conduct a comprehensive assessment of factors related to green banking operations. Key aspects include: evaluating the green credit portfolio against domestic and international standards, classifying by project scale; reviewing the bank's green finance strategy and policies; evaluating the credit process for green loans from application to appraisal and approval; reviewing existing green credit products; and evaluating the management information system (MIS) in monitoring, classifying, and reporting the green credit portfolio.

From left to right: Pham Duy Hieu, CEO of ABBank; Dinh Thi Quynh Van, Chairperson of PwC Vietnam; and Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Vietnam, at the launch ceremony. Photo: ABBank

From left to right: Pham Duy Hieu, CEO of ABBank; Dinh Thi Quynh Van, Chairperson of PwC Vietnam; and Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Vietnam, at the launch ceremony. Photo: ABBank

The program also examines the ability to identify and manage environmental risks, including those related to climate change and social issues in lending activities. PwC will assess ABBank's risk management capacity for green projects, and explore the feasibility of developing and issuing green bonds for the bank and its clients.

Another important aspect is reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs) related to green banking and information disclosure methods, in addition to developing green finance strategies for specific areas based on ABBank's operational characteristics.

ABBank will also receive specialized training to enhance the capacity of its dedicated personnel, creating a solid foundation for the effective long-term operation of green finance models.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Vietnam, commended ABBank's commitment to sustainable finance through the establishment of its ESG Strategy Committee to develop, implement, and monitor related activities and initiatives.

Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Vietnam. Photo: ABBank

Shantanu Chakraborty, ADB Country Director for Vietnam. Photo: ABBank

The "Enhancing Green Banking Capacity" program for ABBank aligns with ADB's strategic priorities outlined in Strategy 2030 and the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Vietnam. This initiative aims to support domestic banks in enhancing their green finance capabilities, contributing to the roadmap for greening Vietnam's financial system.

The program is expected to be implemented within 20 months, laying the foundation for ABBank's long-term development strategy and expanding its cooperation with international financial institutions.

Pham Duy Hieu, CEO of ABBank, shared that the program's launch marks a milestone in technical cooperation, demonstrating the spirit of partnership, respect, and shared commitment to sustainable development among stakeholders.

"We expect that with the support from ADB and partners, ABBank will complete its green banking capacity framework, thereby expanding international cooperation in the field of sustainable finance," he added.

Pham Duy Hieu, CEO of ABBank. Photo: ABBank

Pham Duy Hieu, CEO of ABBank. Photo: ABBank

Previously, in 11/2024, ABBank, ADB, and ERM launched a project to build an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) for trade finance operations. This is an important step in integrating environmental and social factors into the trade credit process, improving risk control effectiveness, and affirming the bank's social responsibility.

In 6/2025, ABBank continued to implement the Gender Gap Assessment and Gender Awareness Raising program for bank staff. The program is implemented with the support of ADB and funding from the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi). The consulting unit is Palladium International in collaboration with Mekong Economics, using both quantitative and qualitative assessment methods.

Through this, ABBank aims to create a report with specific recommendations to help integrate a gender lens into banking operations and promote the potential of female customers and women-owned or -led businesses.

The Gender Gap Assessment is expected to be completed within five months and will serve as a foundation for initiatives promoting gender equality in finance.

Alongside projects focused on green finance and sustainable development, in 2025, ABBank is strengthening cooperation with various organizations such as SVF, VietED Group, and the 315 Healthcare System to implement business initiatives linked to social service. These activities are part of ABBank's long-term strategy, demonstrating its commitment to community contribution and sustainable development in Vietnam.

(Source: ABBank)