Southeast Asia’s Maybank has recently shared significant updates focused on advancing sustainability and social impact through innovative financial solutions and strategic partnerships.
Recently, Maybank announced initiatives that underscore its commitment to fostering a sustainable and inclusive future across the ASEAN region.
These efforts include providing a green loan to Altervim in Malaysia, supporting social enterprises in the Philippines through the Maybank Foundation, and leading the largest syndicated Islamic financing for green data centers in the Asia-Pacific.
Together, these initiatives highlight Maybank’s pivotal role in driving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals while supporting economic growth and digital transformation.
This month, Maybank announced its role as the sole bilateral lender for Altervim, the renewable energy arm of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), marking the company’s clean energy debut in Malaysia.
This maiden green loan, structured under Maybank’s Sustainable Product Framework, will finance Altervim’s rooftop solar power generation business, delivering an initial solar capacity of up to 20MW across multiple sites, including 28 Lotus’s Malaysia branches.
This partnership aligns with Maybank’s sustainability goals and Malaysia’s energy transition agenda, aiming to increase the renewable energy mix.
Borvorn Pienpongpanich, Altervim’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasized that the facility enables faster expansion, real carbon savings, and reduced energy costs for businesses through green energy.
Maybank’s broader commitment to sustainable finance is evident in its mobilization of MYR 125.46 billion (approximately USD 29.22 billion) from 2021 to Q1 2025, surpassing its MYR 80 billion target by 2025, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable finance across the region.
In a parallel effort to drive social impact, the Maybank Foundation announced a partnership with Anthill Ventures to empower social enterprises in the Philippines.
This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to support early-stage social enterprises through the Maybank Foundation-Anthill Ventures Social Impact Program.
The program provides funding, mentorship, and access to Maybank’s extensive ASEAN network, enabling these enterprises to scale their operations and achieve sustainable growth.
By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, the initiative addresses critical social challenges while promoting economic resilience.
The partnership reflects Maybank’s broader mission to create inclusive ecosystems, leveraging its regional presence to amplify the impact of social enterprises in underserved areas.
This move builds on Maybank’s long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, positioning the bank as a catalyst for positive change in the Philippines and other jurisdictions.
Earlier this month, Maybank further solidified its leadership in sustainable finance by underwriting MYR 2.5 billion (approximately USD 590 million), the largest share of a MYR 15 billion dual-currency green financing package for DayOne Data Centers’ green data centers in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
This landmark transaction, the largest syndicated Islamic financing for data centers in the Asia-Pacific, supports DayOne’s development of sustainable digital infrastructure.
Maybank played multiple roles, including Joint Shariah Adviser, Joint Coordinator, Mandated Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, and Joint Green Financing Coordinator, showcasing its expertise in structuring complex Islamic and green finance deals.
Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli, Maybank’s President and Group CEO, highlighted the deal’s significance, noting it as the bank’s largest Islamic financing commitment to the data center sector.
The financing, structured under Green Loan Principles, supports Johor’s emergence as a regional data center hub, expected to host 60% of Malaysia’s data center capacity by 2030, driven by rising demand for artificial intelligence and digital services.
These initiatives collectively demonstrate Maybank’s strategic vision to integrate sustainability and social impact into its core operations.
By mobilizing significant capital for renewable energy and digital infrastructure and fostering social entrepreneurship, Maybank is not only addressing immediate environmental and social challenges but also paving the way for long-term economic resilience in ASEAN.
The bank’s ability to exceed its sustainable finance targets, coupled with its innovative partnerships, positions it as a key player in the region’s financial sector.
As Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region navigate the complexities of digital transformation and climate change, Maybank’s efforts underscore the critical role of financial institutions in driving sustainable development and inclusive growth.