Kiuda Digital Holdings, backed by direct international investments will be launching their state-of-the-art carbon exchange – KiudaEXin the near future. The locally developed carbon exchange will primarily target the growing demand for carbon offset credits in South Korea, Japan, and other regions of Asia. With a multi-milliondollar valuation, the Kiuda Carbon Trading eco-system is backed by direct investments and endorsements from well-known and leading South Korean securities, financial firms and chaebols (conglomerates).

KiudaEX will initiate the next generation of carbon trading by seamlessly connecting global carbon offset credit suppliers to conglomerates and businesses that are targeting to be carbon neutral through carbon offset credits. KiudaEX will be a fully automated carbon offset credit exchange with direct connectivity to well-known carbon registries. The system will solve many of the issues plaguing carbon trading, such as lack of transparency, fraud, double spending and long paperwork, through the innovative use of technologies such as blockchain, process automation, and security measures.

The KiudaEX carbon exchange and its associated Climate Finance software were fully developed in Sri Lanka using local tech talent and expertise. In addition, South Korean investors have set up the company, Kiuda Digital Holdings, in Sri Lanka which will be responsible for operating the Carbon Credit Exchange.

Richard Yoon, CEO of Kiuda Carbon Exchange, spoke enthusiastically about the venture, “The global carbon market is going to be a multi-billion industry in a couple of years. KiudaEX is using the latest technology and we are well-positioned to be a market leader in South Korea, Japan, and globally. We will solve a lot of current issues in the carbon markets. Our exchange will be at the forefront when the carbon markets pick up with mandatory regulatory enforcement.”

He further mentioned “We are very excited to start our business operations in Sri Lanka. We see great potential in Sri Lanka being a future financial hubthat will connect Asia to Africa and Europe. There is a lot of high-quality tech talent and expertise in Sri Lanka which will support our mission.  Once Korean companies and financial institutions realize the advantages of Sri Lanka's location as a Carbon Offset Credit Hub connecting Asia with the African continent that is a potentially growing future market, its education system, well-trained English-speaking workforce, various tax advantages for foreign investors, and most importantly, its well-established legal system, I believe that Korean and Japanese companies and financial institutions will view Sri Lanka as a really good investment destination. We being able to attract direct investments from Korean financial organizations is a direct testament to it.  We are very happy to have learnt about these advantages of Sri Lanka before anyone else. As you can see, if you have a solution based on blockchain technology, it doesn't matter which country you do business in, but I think Sri Lanka is the best place to do business out of all the countries."

Xeptagon, an innovation-driven local tech startup primarily focusing on Climate Finance Technologies is the local partner of Kiuda Digital Holdings. Dr Sapumal Ahangama, Co-Founder of Xeptagon mentioned “Kiuda Carbon Exchange will be a game changer in the carbon trading domain. It is developed using Xeptagon’s core Climate Finance technology framework. We already provide climate finance and carbon trading-related software development services to global inter-governmental organizations, governments and financial organizations in the USA, Hong Kong, the African Region and the Gulf Region among others.”

Both Kiuda Digital Holdings and Xeptagon are excited to embark on this innovation-driven journey together. Kiuda Digital Holdings has a long-term vision for climate finance and carbon trading with initiatives already made to host a carbon registry, and MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) system while carrying out Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects and Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) for the renewable energy sector.Kiuda Digital Holdings is right now finalizing the next rounds of investments from South Korean and Japanese financial institutesto drive these initiatives.

Photo caption: L to R Richard Yoon- CEO of KIUDA Digital Holdings Dr Sapumal Ahangama - Co-Founder of Xeptagon