BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 6. The Black Sea
Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has signed a EUR 40 million SME
Facility with AKLease, marking a significant milestone in Türkiye’s
financial sector with the introduction of the country’s first
sustainability-linked leasing product, Trend reports via the
Bank.
The funds will be deployed through ECOLease, an innovative
AKLease product designed to direct financing toward environmentally
conscious and sustainable projects. The facility aims to support
Turkish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) investing in
renewable energy, waste management, energy efficiency, raw material
efficiency, and water efficiency — directly contributing to
Türkiye’s green transition and aligning with its Paris Agreement
commitments.
“This new financing demonstrates our strong resolve to
accelerate the green transition across our member countries. By
joining forces once again with AKLease, we are enabling SMEs to
take concrete steps toward decarbonization, innovation, and
sustainable competitiveness,” said Dr. Serhat Köksal, President of
BSTDB, emphasizing the Bank’s broader climate ambitions. “ECOLease
will ensure that financing flows to projects that not only reduce
emissions but also strengthen resilience, create new opportunities,
and support inclusive growth in Türkiye. This is precisely how
BSTDB translates its Climate Change Strategy into action on the
ground.”
BSTDB’s cooperation with AKLease dates back to 2017, during
which the Bank supported over 260 leasing transactions through EUR
50 million in SME loans. The newly signed sustainability-linked
facility builds on this successful partnership and sets an
important precedent for scaling climate-focused finance within
Türkiye’s leasing market.
