India Inc may step up rupee-denominated green bond issuances

Green bond issuances could touch 8-10 per cent of overall corporate bonds issuances in India in a couple of years. This, as India Inc and public sector enterprises are seen tapping green financing at relatively lower cost to set up projects in areas such as renewable energy, clean transportation, water and waste management/recycling, green buildings, rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and EV charging infrastructure, among others, according to experts.

“Around 76 per cent of the green bonds issued in India since 2015 were denominated in US dollar… green bonds constituted only 0.7 per cent of all the bonds issued in India since 2018,” according to a study in RBI’s January 2021 monthly bulletin.

Ajay Manglunia, MD & Head, Investment Grade Group, JM Financial, expects the green bond market to build up, with some of the corporates floating them in FY24, in the wake of enthusiastic investor response to the maiden SGrB issuance on January 25. “Green bond issuance could account for 2-3 per cent of overall corporate bond issuances in FY24. This could go up to 8-10 per cent in a couple of years,” as per Manglunia’s assessment.

India Inc, on an average, issues bonds aggregating ₹8-10-lakh crore a year. “There is a huge market for green bonds outside India. So, if the domestic market for these bonds is developed, it will attract foreign capital,” said the treasury head of a public sector bank.