UOB Thailand has partnered with IRPC Public Company Limited (IRPC) to advance ESG-linked trade finance in Thailand through a Sustainability-Linked Trade Facility. The facility integrates sustainability performance into financial terms by referencing the S&P Global ESG Score as a key performance indicator. This marks another significant step in embedding ESG considerations into working capital management and supply chain trade transactions.
The facility reflects a growing shift among businesses, where ESG is evolving from a compliance requirement to a strategic driver of competitiveness, access to funding, and long-term sustainable growth.
The Sustainability-Linked Trade Facility is structured in accordance with UOB’s Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles, which align with international standards. Under this framework, IRPC’s ESG performance is linked to the pricing mechanism of the facility, with the S&P Global ESG Score serving as the core metric. The score assesses performance across environmental, social, and governance dimensions. This collaboration represents the first initiative of its kind to integrate business growth objectives with tangible ESG outcomes, while supporting the transition toward a low-carbon economy.
Mrs Vira-anong Chiranakhorn Phutrakul, Deputy CEO and Wholesale Banking, UOB Thailand, said “Thai businesses are under growing pressure from global investors, customers, and trade partners to embed sustainability into their operations. Today, financial institutions play a critical role not just in financing, but in incentivising this transition. UOB’s Sustainability-Linked Trade Facility integrates ESG directly into trade and working capital—core engines of industrial activity—and supports businesses as they move towards a low carbon economy.”
Miss Torsang Chaipravat, Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Accounting and Finance, IRPC Public Company Limited, said “IRPC is committed to continuously strengthening our ESG performance in line with international standards. This collaboration not only reflects our sustainability commitment but also demonstrates a concrete integration of ESG performance into financial mechanisms. This enhances our competitiveness, builds stakeholder confidence, and creates long-term economic, social, and environmental value.”
This collaboration reflects a modern approach to finance that places sustainability at the core of business operations and future growth. As sustainability-linked financial instruments gain global traction, the partnership between UOB and IRPC highlights the joint role of the financial and industrial sectors in advancing sustainable finance innovation. It reinforces the integration of ESG into business and financial strategies, elevates Thailand’s sustainable finance standards, and supports the country’s transition toward a competitive, low-carbon economy.
Symbol: IRPC