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Raiffeisen Bank International | Sustainability Report 2017
GRI content index / Assurance statement Engaged citizen Fair partner Responsible banker Sustainability management Overview Foreword
Sustainable financing
We describe financing as being “sustainable” when it
has long-term positive effects on the real economy,
infrastructure and regional development, on society and
social affairs, the environment and climate, or on research,
education and innovation. With a majority of these financing projects, we support targets as stipulated in the
“Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) within the scope of our capabilities as a financial institution.
Particular focus is placed on the following efforts: “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic
growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” (Goal 8), “build resilient infrastructure,
promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation” (Goal 9), “ensure access to
affordable, reliable, sustainable and contemporary energy for all” (Goal 7) and “take urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts” (Goal 13).
Sustainable financing at the Vienna sites
(By RBI AG, unless otherwise specified)
Once again in 2017, numerous new business transactions were carried out in areas considered desirable from a
sustainability perspective.
Positive impacts on the real economy, infrastructure and regional development
• Public sector projects:
Last year, RBI AG once again supported 199 institutes of the Raiffeisen Banking Group in Austria in financing a
total of 88 additional projects for water supply facilities, waste water systems, schools and kindergartens as well
as similar public sector projects for a value of € 76 million. As a result, the total volume of new and existing
financing projects supported in 2017 was € 884 million.
Positive impacts on society and social affairs
• Health:
A long-term development aid loan was issued for the establishment of a modern emergency medicine and
ambulance system in Sri Lanka – in line with European standards – and for improvement of the medical
emergency infrastructure. This enabled the purchase of modern and functional ambulance vehicles. Hospital
waste in Cameroon is still disposed of in public landfills. To ensure proper disposal of infectious hospital waste
in 25 district hospitals, soft loan financing was provided for the procurement of incineration plants for hospital
waste.
• Property and wealth accumulation among the population:
In recent decades in Austria, domestic building societies have co-funded the construction, purchase or
modernization of around 1.5 million residential units, creating living space for about four million people. In
this way, building societies have contributed to the broad accumulation of property and wealth as well as
individual financial security. A significant portion of this financing was provided by Raiffeisen Bausparkasse
Gesellschaft m.b.H., which serves around 1.6 million customers. The financing services provided by this
company for residential construction are an important boost for the domestic construction industry and economy.
The topics of renovation, energy efficiency improvements in existing structures and energy-efficient construction
have gained importance here. Raiffeisen Bausparkasse Gesellschaft m.b.H. assists its customers in implementing
such projects with an extensive range of free information services.