"CDF has been closely following the government's "Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Pathway" and continues to exert its sustainable impact in the financial sector to help the relevant industries to drive carbon reduction and sustainability transformation."
CDIB Capital Group is committed to sustainable development in line with the sustainability goals of its parent company China Development Financial Holding Corp (CDF). In late May 2023, the CDIB Board of Directors approved the “Sustainable Development Best Practice Principles” and established a Sustainability Committee under the governing body. Six working groups were established, each responsible for overseeing a different component of CDIB’s practice, including responsible investment, social philanthropy, environmental sustainability, corporate governance, client relations, and employee wellbeing. Entrusted with the implementation of these sustainability policies, the working groups regularly report to the Board of Directors, increasing accountability and deepening the corporate sustainability culture from top to bottom towards the goal of sustainable corporate development.
KPMG Taiwan chairman Jeff Chen, ESG advisor to CDF, said that CDF has been closely following the government's "Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Pathway" and continues to exert its sustainable impact in the financial sector to help the relevant industries to drive carbon reduction and sustainability transformation. In recent years, sustainable finance has been one of CDF’s key ESG initiatives and CDIB has taken this mission to heart. CDIB’s initiatives towards sustainable investment start from the core of its business, with three primary highlights: firstly, capital expenditure-intensive infrastructure projects with stable investment returns. These projects include the development of renewable energy and energy storage equipment, waste treatment, sewage treatment and other circular economy industries, and low-carbon data centers. For example, in March of 2023, CDIB signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. (Foxconn) (TWSE: 2317) to jointly found Kai-Hong Energy Co. As the first cross-sector, green energy investment platform in Taiwan, Kai-Hong Energy works to enhance the energy supply chain of Hon Hai and other SMEs by build a low-carbon energy-saving supply chain; a venture that has been received enthusiastically by the related industries. Niven Huang, Head of ESG, KPMG Asia Pacific, further explained that the Kai-Hong Energy partnership serves as a model for how an industry leader can join hands with a long-term investment asset management firm to drive the transformation of the supply chain, providing more green energy sources at a critical time in Taiwan's energy transformation.
Aiming at energy conservation and carbon reduction, CDIB's second sustainable investment highlight features light capital investment in smart technology, smart manufacturing, and environmental innovation industries, focused at minimizing air pollution and environmental damage through the development of automated, smart and sustainable technologies. Finally, in the hopes of promote and ensuring healthy living and well-being for all ages, CDIB extends its third investment highlight to biotechnology, medicine, and long-term care. Catering for the diverse needs of an aging population, these investments include support for health screening and consultation, disease prevention, and digital health, in alignment with the UN’s “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs). In addition, CDIB steps up food safety by investing in natural raw materials and agriculture, and practices responsible investment by supporting green chemical products that meet sustainable toxic-free environment criteria.
On the social front, CDIB has observed the demographic and rural-urban imbalance in Taiwan and incorporated "regional revitalization" into its business development blueprint. Actively responding to the National Development Council's program, it hopes to channel corporate resources to drive the development of related industries based on local characteristics and advance towards the goal of a "balanced Taiwan." CDIB also collaborated with B Corp "Friendly Seed" to organize a series of volunteer activities geared towards environmental sustainability. The company called on its staff to: clean up beaches, learn to preserve marine culture, create communal paddy fields shared between humans and birds, and assist with the development of local industries. In this way, CDIB hopes to plant the seeds of sustainability into the work and real lives of its staff.
Sparing no effort in pushing for sustainable development, CDIB joins forces with its investors, partners, and staff members to put social and environmental concerns into practice and integrate sustainable development goals into its business vision and actions. Going forward, CDIB aims to collaborate with more entities to scale up its sustainability impact and take a proactive role in fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.