Japan, Feb. 12 -- To promote digitalization and jobs in emerging markets, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has partnered with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), one of the leading Japanese financial groups with a strong presence in Asia-Pacific, to launch the world's first social bond exclusively dedicated to digital inclusion, including for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), totaling US$500 million. Expanding financial access for MSMEs through digital tools further supports their role as the primary driver of jobs in emerging markets.As an anchor investor, IFC collaborated with SMFG to conceptualize its Social Finance Framework in line with the ICMA Social Bond Principles (SBP). This landmark transaction marks IFC's f...