Thailand plans to issue up to USD1.1bn in baht-denominated sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) in Q4, marking Asia’s first government-led SLB sale. The bonds aim to fund the national budget deficit and support carbon emission reduction programmes, according to Jindarat Viriyataveekul, a public debt advisor at the finance ministry. The offering, which targets both local and foreign institutional investors, aligns with increasing global interest in green financing. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is leveraging this initiative to enhance Thailand’s appeal to international investors like BlackRock Inc. and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA. The country is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The ministry may prefer SLBs over traditional sustainability bonds for their greater flexibility in fund usage.