CIU hosts seminar on importance, challenges of ESG financing

The Chittagong Independent University Business School (CIUBS) organised a seminar titled “Accessibility to ESG Financing Incentives for Malaysian SMEs: Barriers and Solutions” on Thursday.

The seminar explored the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) financing incentives and examined potential approaches to making sustainable finance more accessible to businesses.

The session featured Dr Tengku Adeline Adura Tengku Hamzah, executive director of the Quality Management and Enhancement Department (QMED) and Associate Professor in the Department of Geography under Arts and Social Sciences faculty of Universiti Malaya in Malaysia.

Drawing on her academic and professional expertise, Dr Adeline discussed the barriers and opportunities surrounding ESG financing for Malaysian SMEs, highlighting the importance of sustainable business practices and the role of financial incentives in supporting the transition towards more responsible and resilient business operations.

The discussion was particularly relevant to Bangladesh, where sustainable finance and environmental and social risk management are gaining importance in the financial sector.

The insights shared during the seminar offered an opportunity to reflect on how lessons from Malaysia could inform efforts to strengthen ESG awareness, improve SME readiness and expand access to sustainable financing in Bangladesh.

CIU Business School Dean Professor Dr Emon Kalyan Chowdhury delivered the opening remarks, while Vice Chancellor Professor Dr MM Nurul Absar chaired the session.