The IFC (part of the World Bank Group) has issued a 2.6bn Swedish krona (US$243m) bond to support ocean-friendly projects and improve access to clean
water and sanitation in emerging markets.

Blue bonds are still a new development. This is the IFC’s second blue bond – following a 2bn Norwegian krone bond earlier this year.

The IFC will on-lend these funds to projects. Blue bonds from global development institutions such as the IFC will increase the number of “blue
projects” – as low cost funding becomes available for them to companies and governments.

The IFC invested in June in Thai bank Krungsri’s first green and blue bond – which financed clean water, fisheries and aquaculture projects in Thailand.

Investors for this new IFC Blue Bond included AP2, AP3, AP7, The Folksam Group, Handelsbanken Fonder, Länsförsäkringar Liv, LF Västernorrland, National Pension Service, SEB AM, Swedbank Robur and Skandia.