Indonesia to launch US$1 billion orange bonds to empower women-led MSMEs

[JAKARTA] Indonesia is set to launch US$1 billion orange bonds to narrow the gender inequality gap in the country’s small business sector.

Named after the colour of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, orange bonds are an asset class that aim to empower 100 million women, girls and gender minorities worldwide by unlocking US$10 billion of capital by 2030.

The goal of the orange bonds, said Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), is to assist micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are helmed by women.