DFCC Bank first foreign corporate to list bond on India’s NSE International Exchange

From left: NSEICC MD/CEO Neeraj Julshestra, IFSCA ED Pradeep Ramakrishnan, NSEIX MD and CEO V.Balasubramaniam,  IFSCA Chairperson K.Rajaraman, DFCC Bank Director/ CEO Thimal Perera, Senior Vice President – Treasury, Investment Banking and Wholesale Banking Prins Perera, and NSEIX PID Dr. Sobhesh Agarwala 

DFCC Bank PLC has become the first foreign corporate entity to list a bond on the National Stock Exchange – International Exchange (NSE IX) at GIFT City, India – marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s capital markets and reinforcing DFCC Bank’s position as a regional leader in sustainable finance.

This listing completes a strategic multiple listing journey for DFCC Bank’s Green Bond, which was first issued in Sri Lanka and subsequently dual-listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The latest listing on NSE IX further strengthens the Bank’s access to international capital markets and exemplifies its commitment to scalable, cross-border sustainable finance.

The bell-ringing ceremony was held on 9 June 2025 at the Grand Mercure, GIFT City. The event was graced by International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Chairperson K. Rajaraman, as the Chief Guest, alongside other dignitaries from the National Stock Exchange, IFSCA, and heads of banks based in GIFT City. DFCC Bank was represented by Chief Executive Officer Thimal Perera, and Senior Vice President – Treasury, Investment and Wholesale Banking Prins Perera. 

“This listing is more than a milestone – it is a signal of Sri Lanka’s readiness to engage with the region through credible, future-forward finance,” said DFCC Bank PLC Chief Executive Officer Thimal Perera. “By becoming the first foreign corporate to list on NSE IX, DFCC Bank is demonstrating how institutions in emerging economies can structure and scale sustainable capital in line with global standards. This strategic achievement reflects our ongoing efforts to align commercial innovation with climate priorities, and to bridge South Asia’s financial systems with international capital through practical, purpose-led execution.” 

Commenting on the listing, NSE IX MD and CEO V. Balasubramaniam said, “We are delighted to welcome DFCC Bank PLC as the first foreign corporate issuer in NSEIX and in GIFT IFSC with a secondary listing of Rs. 2.5 Billion green bonds on the Exchange. I am confident that this listing will inspire more issuers from Sri Lanka and neighbouring countries to explore opportunities in GIFT City. The IFSCA listing regulations are designed to support global fundraising and NSE IX is proud to contribute to the broader vision of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Business summit ‘to foster greater regional collaboration through robust trade and investment relations among the member countries.’”

The proceeds from the bond will be directed towards renewable energy projects, specifically for ground and rooftop-mounted Solar PV electricity generation projects. These projects conform to the Sri Lanka Green Finance Taxonomy and align with the country’s national goal of sourcing 70% of its energy from renewables by 2030.

This bond issuance reflects DFCC Bank’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development and advances its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). DFCC Bank’s Green Bonds are issued under a framework aligned with the Green Bond Principles of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA).

Through this pioneering move, DFCC Bank continues to leverage global capital markets in pursuit of regional climate resilience, green growth, and inclusive progress.