RECAP OF OCTOBER 22 2019 – ATFA GREEN FINANCE EVENT IN SAO PAOLO By Lynn Galkoski, ITFA Head Of Americas – Jan 2020

ATFA – Association of Trade and Forfaiting in the Americas and The Climate Bonds Initiative co-hosted a breakfast event on October 22nd 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil to discuss “The Challenges and Opportunities for Green Finance in Brazil”. The panel was comprised of Laurent Girault, CEO of Natixis Brazil, Thatyanne Gasparotto, Head of Latin America of Climate Bonds Initiative, Milton Menten, CEO of EcoAgro, and Erasmo Carlos Battistella, founder and CEO of ECB Group and moderated by Lucio Feijo Lopes, managing partner of Feijo Lopes Advogados along with Ana Paula Firmato, country manager of Innovatus Capital Partners. The event was co-sponsored by the Brazilian law firm, Feijo Lopes Advogados, which is a premiere firm specializing in trade finance.

The subject matter experts on the panel discussed the current landscape of Green Finance in Brazil and Latin America from the perspective of both banks and borrowers, the benefits and challenges to foster sustainable financing in the region and the actions being taken to make Brazil and Latin America a relevant market for Green Finance as an alternative solution to the green bonds currently issued in capital markets.

The breakfast seminar on this key topic was well attended by over 65 high profile, senior managers & CEOs in both local and international banks, insurers, securitization companies and asset management firms.

Due to the success of this Brazil event and the continued interest in this topic, a follow-up educational seminar is scheduled for January 29th 2020 in NYC in coordination with the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce.