Press Release: Global Impact Investing Network Publishes Landscape Reporton Impact Investing Industry in South Asia

Friday, April 10, 2015

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), in partnership with Dalberg Global Development Advisors, today published the full release of The Landscape for Impact Investing in South Asia, a “state of the market” analysis of the impact investing industry in the region. The most comprehensive study of impact investment activity in South Asia to date, the full report includes a chapter for each of the six countries studied—Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The report analyzes an active impact investing market across South Asia. Development finance institutions (DFIs) remain a significant player in the market, having deployed over $8 billion in impact capital to date. However, several other types of investors—including VC/PE funds, foundations, family offices, and commercial banks—are becoming increasingly active, with such non-DFI impact investors having deployed over $800 million to date in the region.

The six countries examined in the report exhibit a range of trends and opportunities for impact investors. While energy and financial services have attracted the most impact investment capital across the region to date, sector preferences vary between the different countries. In Bangladesh, impact investors identify opportunities with a strong view on job creation; in Sri Lanka there is growing interest in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and health; and in Nepal, hydropower and tourism are key focus impact sectors.

“We are thrilled to share the South Asian landscape research broadly, as this type of market intelligence is critical to growing a robust global impact investing market,” said Amit Bouri, CEO of the GIIN. “The report will help investors better understand the different country contexts and more efficiently identify opportunities to have an impact on improving the environment and the lives of the poor in South Asian countries.”

The landscape study is built on thorough analysis of relevant literature, large volumes of transaction data, and extensive interviews with key industry stakeholders. Detailed country chapters include information on the supply of capital by investor type, investment opportunities by sector, and regulatory considerations and hurdles for impact investors and investees.

“Knowledge and transparency are key to building the evidence base for impact investing,” said Adrien Couton, a Partner at Dalberg. “With insight into the various opportunities, challenges, and the players at hand, investors can be more strategic and ideally more successful in making impact investments in South Asia and around the globe.”

The study was produced with support from UK aid from the UK Government through the Department for International Development’s Impact Programme. Future GIIN impact investing landscaping reports are planned for the regions of East, West, and Southern Africa, which are poised for the greatest increase in investor interest, according to the GIIN and J.P. Morgan’s 2014 Impact Investor Survey.

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About GIIN

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing. Impact investments are investments made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. Impact investments can be made in both emerging and developed markets, and target a range of returns from below market to market rate, depending upon the circumstances. The GIIN builds critical infrastructure and supports activities, education, and research that help accelerate the development of a coherent impact investing industry. For more information, please visit www.thegiin.org.

About Dalberg

Dalberg is a leading strategy and policy consulting firm whose mission is to mobilize effective responses to the world’s most pressing issues. Dalberg supports leaders across the public and private sectors, helping governments, foundations, investors, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Fortune 500 companies address global challenges and realize opportunities for growth. For more information, visit http://www.dalberg.com.

Source: Global Impact Investing Network (link opens in a new window)

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