FIRA issued the gender bond on the Mexican stock exchange BIVA on October 15th, with a 3 year maturity as part of a larger placement of three bonds worth 10 billion pesos/ $3 billion dollars, to provide exclusive financing to women who require working capital and resources for productive infrastructure. FIRA’s Director General, Jesus Alan Elizondo Flores, said -in an interview with the business news media El CEO- that of all the agri-food production assets in the country, including farms and fishing, only 21% are owned by women. The issuance of the Bono Social de Género is the first of its kind in Mexico and constitutes an innovative mechanism that seeks to attract more investors with an interest in promoting gender equality.

The strategic alliance between FIRA and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) allowed the development of the reference framework, validated by the International Financial Agency. In turn, BBVA, Santander, Citibanamex, Scotiabank and HSBC acted as intermediaries for the issuance. The gender social bond complies with the ICMA (International Capital Markets Association) Social Bond Principles. It is also in line with the international trend of financing with an Environment, Society and Governance (ESG) approach.

As a result of the recent issuance of the FIRA Gender Social Bond, the “Grito BIVA” event will take place, which will be broadcasted on the Institutional Stock Exchange’s Facebook Live channel.