Ant International, a global digital payment and financial services leader, in collaboration with its industry partners, are developing an industry-first MSME Sustainability Impact Scorecard (“MSME S-Card”), a digital solution designed to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Asia to track their environmental and social impact in an verified and convenient way based on applicable standards and requirements, to better integrate sustainability into their business operations.
The MSME S-Card leverages Ant International’s experience and partnerships in digital innovation and platforms, automating the collection of key data within existing business processes and digital wallets to build and validate MSME ESG credentials. By integrating ESG metrics in this streamlined and digital way, the scorecard offers MSMEs actionable insights for aligning with sustainability standards, enhancing their ESG credibility, attracting impact-focused investors, and supporting long-term sustainable growth in line with global market expectations.
Leiming Chen, chief sustainability officer, Ant International, said: “One of the key priorities when we launched Programme Sirius earlier this year was to address the critical challenge of sustainability inclusion for MSMEs, who are being left behind in the global shift towards sustainability, missing out on new opportunities. We hope that the MSME S-Card, the first initiative under Programme Sirius, will offer a benchmark for MSMEs and financial institutions to work together to support MSMEs’ sustainability journey, enabling them to contribute to a shared vision for a better future while gaining practical benefits from sustainable payments, ESG reporting, and green financing.”
In March 2024, Ant International unveiled Programme Sirius (Sustainability Innovation for Regenerative & Inclusive Purpose) — supported by partners like the IFC, Gprnt and 13 Asia-Pacific fintech leaders at its inaugural launch — an industry-led knowledge initiative to empower MSMEs in their transition towards sustainability, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As Technology Partner to Programme Sirius, Gprnt will build on its expertise in harnessing technology to simplify how environmental, social and governance (ESG) data is collected and accessed, and share best practices and community outreach in driving MSME sustainability with Ant International. Gprnt, the world’s first regulator-launched digital platform for ESG reporting and data, will also act as a data reporting partner, and will further bolster transparency and help support MSMEs’ efforts to achieve alignment with applicable regional standards.
Lionel Wong, executive director, Gprnt, said: “We are excited to reaffirm our partnership with Ant International to collaborate on Programme Sirius, an important initiative for promulgating MSMEs’ access to solutions that help them commence their sustainability journeys. The launch of the MSME S-Card could not have come at a better time, happening in lockstep with Gprnt’s launch of its own automated Disclosure and Marketplace tools, which are designed to simplify sustainability reporting for all businesses, and connect them to an ecosystem of solutions to support their financing and decarbonisation needs.”
Addressing challenges MSMEs face in adopting sustainable practices
Accounting for 90% of businesses and over half of Asia’s workforce, MSMEs are vital to the region’s economy. Yet, they often face obstacles in adopting sustainable practices, including
- Lack of Knowledge: Unlike large corporations driven by ESG reporting requirements, MSMEs often lack awareness of ESG practices, which limits their ability to engage in sustainability initiatives.This knowledge gap is particularly notable in developing countries, where access to information and resources is limited.
- Limited Resources: MSMEs face resource and financial barriers that make implementing sustainability practices difficult. While some may adopt simpler, green-certified solutions—such as solar-powered lighting or energy-efficient equipment—these options often come with high upfront costs. Many MSMEs, as part of the global value chain, are also increasingly requested to meet the complex sustainability demands of larger corporations.
- Scarcity of Tailored Financial Products: Most green finance solutions offered by banks and financial institutions are geared toward larger corporations, leaving MSMEs underserved. These smaller enterprises require financing that aligns with their shorter investment horizons, smaller capital needs, and specific challenges. Without such tailored financial support, MSMEs struggle to fund their sustainable transitions effectively.
Leveraging digital platforms for seamless MSME reporting and transformation
Ant International’s global digital platform ecosystem partners play a crucial role in supporting MSMEs with seamless data connectivity and local expertise. The MSME S-Card bridges gaps between financial institutions and small businesses by enabling sustainability reporting through partnerships, such as with pilot participant GCash from the Philippines, who will further customize the scorecard benchmarks based on local needs.
Winsley Bangit, VP for New Businesses, GCash, said: “In the Philippines, MSMEs make up 99.5% of all businesses. However, many remain informal and lack access to financing and growth support, limiting their potential for resilience and innovation. GCash’s partnerships with global leaders like Ant International will help enable MSMEs to access both capital and practical support, promoting responsible growth in line with GCash’s purpose to uplift Filipinos’ everyday lives. Together, we’ll create a synergistic ecosystem combining capital, technology, and sustainability expertise.”
As an inaugural member of Programme Sirius, GCash has become a champion of financial inclusion in the Philippines economy by championing mobile financial services. Beyond financial inclusion, GCash is also committed to environmental and social sustainability, making it a leader in sustainable fintech globally. Through its GForest initiative, GCash has mobilized 17 million users to plant over 2.8 million trees, reducing carbon emissions by 138,000 metric tons. This reforestation effort not only contributes to environmental conservation but also provides livelihoods for over 8,600 farmers.
The pilot project by GCash is expected to launch by next year.