Paul Yang, Valérie Tamagny-Ferrier and Nandita Bakhshi, on the Group’s regional activities
Perspectives of Nandita Bakhshi, President & Chief Executive Officer of Bank of the West, and co-CEO of BNP Paribas USA, Valérie Tamagny-Ferrier, Head of Région Grand Ouest, French Retail Banking, and Paul Yang, Chief Executive Officer,
BNP Paribas in Asia-Pacific.
How is BNP Paribas contributing to the establishment of a more sustainable model within regions?
Paul Yang: Through its activities and high levels of commitment, the Group acts in all of the regions where it operates to promote a more inclusive and shared economy that respects the environment. In Asia-Pacific, we are leading a large number of energy transition initiatives. In 2020, for example, we financed several solar projects in India and Malaysia, as well as a wind farm project in Taiwan.
Valérie Tamagny-Ferrier: One example of BNP Paribas’ commitment locally would be in France, in the Grand Ouest region, the Group acts for the sustainable development of regions by supporting entrepreneurship in all its forms, in close collaboration with local ecosystems. We also support around twenty associations committed to equal opportunities, digital inclusion and regional development.
What actions has the Group taken to combat social exclusion, promote professional integration and development within regions?
Nandita Bakhshi: As a mission-driven bank, we understand that it will take global efforts and cooperation to address the most pressing issues, such as diversity and climate change. In the United States, we launched the ‘1% for the Planet Checking Account’, which allows our customers to track CO2 emissions and donate 1% of their revenues from that account to environmental causes. We have also partnered with the non-profit organisation Grameen America, which provides micro loans and promotes entrepreneurship among women living in poverty.
Paul Yang: In APAC, in response to the pandemic, we injected 4 million euros into various philanthropic programmes. These funds were used to provide food aid to families in need and to provide underprivileged children with computer equipment. We have also established a long-term partnership with ‘Room to Read’ in India and Vietnam, focused on literacy and education for young girls.
What are your priorities in 2021?
Valérie Tamagny-Ferrier: One of our priorities is to support the ecological transition, by increasing awareness among other actors so we can all work together and through promoting a wider range of offers related to environmental issues. Increasing skills, promoting talents and ensuring that women hold positions of responsibility are also part of our main areas of mobilisation.
Nandita Bakhshi: Our first priority is sustainable recovery, which will lift everyone up, including those most affected by the pandemic – women, people of color, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. To do that, we are focusing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those addressing energy transition, entrepreneurship and diversity. We are also continuing our work on gender equality and economic mobility by supporting the inclusion of women and minority entrepreneurs. Our diversity is one of the reasons that we are a fundamentally different bank and the leading sustainable bank in the U.S.