ING Bank Romania is supporting Rodbun Group with green financing totaling 19.5 million euros, intended for the reforestation of up to 1,000 hectares of agricultural land in Romania. The project is part of the National Reforestation Campaign carried out under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
Green financing is structured in accordance with the Loan Market Association (LMA) principles for green loans. These provide a clear framework and rigorous standards to ensure transparency and guarantee that the financed project contributes to a positive impact on the environment. The project is fully supported by European grants, awarded annually by the Ministry of Environment, based on checks carried out by the Forest Guard.
ING Bank Romania, together with Raiffeisen Bank, acted as Sustainability Coordinator. ING Bank Romania, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, and Garanti BBVA Romania participated as lenders for the green syndicated loan facility.
“Sustainability is at the heart of ING Bank’s strategy and values, both globally and locally. We actively collaborate with our customers to address some of the most pressing issues facing the world today. In this regard, we are delighted to have coordinated this green financing for Rodbun, which reflects our partner’s strong commitment to a more sustainable future.
Romania needs projects that bring real benefits to nature and leave a lasting mark. With Rodbun, we are contributing to a large-scale national campaign within the PNRR, in which progress is measured annually and independently verified.” – Raluca Țintoiu, Deputy CEO & Head of Wholesale Banking, ING Bank Romania.
With over two decades of experience, Rodbun Group is Romania’s leading supplier of agricultural raw materials for small farmers and the country’s largest seed producer.
The Rodbun Group project is in line with Romania’s objectives to increase its forest cover from the current level of 27.7% to the European average of 39%, thus contributing to the achievement of its climate targets. The project will be implemented until 2026, during which time Rodbun will carry out phased planting and maintenance of forested areas.
“This project is more than just a one-off initiative for us-it is an integral part of our sustainability strategy. By collaborating with strong financial partners such as ING, we aim to demonstrate that agriculture and environmental protection can go hand in hand, generating value for farmers, nature, and society”, sayed Daniel Muntean, co-founder Rodbun
The reforestation process will comply with international forest certification standards (FSC/PEFC), and the impact of the project will be monitored and reported annually.