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flag Samsung’s $716M ESG fund disbursed just $13.5M after one year due to strict requirements limiting small business access.

flag Samsung’s $716 million ESG fund, launched in September 2024 with South Korea’s financial authorities and five major banks, has disbursed only $13.5 million—2% of its total—after one year. flag The fund, which earns over $21 million annually in interest from a one trillion won time deposit, offers interest-free loans of up to $1.44 million for three years to small and mid-sized enterprises. flag However, stringent ESG requirements, including environmental, labor, safety, and anti-corruption standards, have limited participation, with most eligible firms being first-tier suppliers. flag Many smaller companies lack the resources to meet these criteria. flag In response, Samsung and the banks met in September 2025 to discuss simplifying processes and expanding access.

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