STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
2-22
Dear partners, investors and market participants,
We are pleased to present the Moscow Exchange’s report for 2023. The past year has seen the company play an active role in the dynamic development of the industry. I would like to highlight the key areas of our sustainable development activities.
Genuine corporate governance and business ethics
Following strategic meetings to discuss various aspects for the MOEX Group’s business development, the Supervisory Board approved a new group strategy until 2028 in September 2023. The main emphasis of the new strategy is on developing capital markets through the expansion of ESG product offerings and capital-raising opportunities for SMEs.
Respect for human rights, equal opportunities and staff engagement.
For us, people development is one of key factors in achieving new ambitions targets. In 2023, training hours reached 15 hours per employee. This represents an increase of 80% across the MOEX Group.
Environmentally friendly and trusted market infrastructure.
We continued to strengthen the market participants’ confidence by ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the exchange infrastructure. In 2023, accessibility of IT systems was 99.98%. In doing so, we keep in mind the challenges associated with low-carbon development.
In 2023, the Supervisory Board approved the first ever Moscow Exchange Environmental Policy. The key objectives of the Moscow Exchange Environmental Policy include facilitating the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy and minimising own direct and indirect negative impacts on the environment and climate.
In pursuit of our Environmental Policy objectives, we have continued switching offices and data centres to green contracts. As a result, the share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources increased from 72% to 92% of the Group’s total electricity consumption. The initiative resulted in a decrease of indirect greenhouse gas emissions from electricity consumption by 791 tonnes of CO2, representing a 73% reduction from the 2022 level.
Developing best practices in responsible investment
Regardless of the changes in the global market, we are seeing a consistent rise in demand for investing in green and social responsibility projects. In 2023, the total value of bonds placed in the Sustainability Sector was more than RUB 140 billion, with a total of RUB 379 billion of securities traded in the sector.
We also continue to create an environment for SMEs to grow and develop. In 2023, two shares and 67 bond issues of 40 SMEs were traded in the Growth Sector. SME bond issues in 2023 amounted to RUB 11.3 billion in total.
The Innovation and Investment Market continues to grow. In 2023, the Innovation and Investment Market sector saw seven bond placements with a total volume of RUB 28 billion, one IPO and one SPO with a volume of RUB 179 million and RUB 3.5 billion respectively.
A key product of the low-carbon economy is the auctioning of carbon units. In 2023, the second on-exchange auction in carbon units was held with a total value of 2,735 carbon units generated from the implementation of the climate project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Trusted relations with local communities
Improving the financial literacy remains a key project for Moscow Exchange focused on engaging with all members of the community. In 2023, we held more than 270 financial literacy improvement events. Therefore, the learning content of Moscow Exchange in the period 2021-2023 has been accessed by over 2.24 million individuals, including over 700,000 in 2023.
In 2023, the charitable activities of Moscow Exchange were focused on the support of Russian universities, which received more than RUB 110 million.
In concluding, I thank our employees, clients, partners and other stakeholders for their ongoing support and contribution in the development of Moscow Exchange.
We strongly believe that our work in promoting the sustainable development agenda is an important contribution to the social and economic development of the Russian Federation. Our focus remains on attaining ambitious new goals in this domain, with the aim of creating a financial market that is increasingly transparent, sustainable, and responsible.
Sincerely yours,