EDITORIAL
Number of SRI Funds in Asia Jumps Over 70% Passing the 400 Mark
Our latest update of the popular ASrIA SRI Funds Portal finds that the number of SRI funds distributed in Asia has climbed 70% since May 2008 to 417 funds. Many of the funds are developed and distributed by our members. To learn more, visit the ASrIA SRI funds portal. If you would like to list your SRI fund, then click here.
We organised several successful panels during the TBLI Asia 2010 conference in Tokyo at the end of May, as well as three major side events for our members. For instance, we faciliated a SRI Roundtable for Japanese corporates and investment professionals, with key support from Bloomberg and Boston Common Asset Management. Warm hearted thanks to all who participated, and for pushing the sustainable and responsible investment agenda in Asia, including our members based in Japan : Sumitomo Trust & Banking, Daiwa Securities Group, and Good Bankers.
We are organising – with support from the International Finance Corporation – a series of additional Sustainable Investment Roundtables. With venue sponsor Chubb, the first was held in Shanghai on 1 July. Over the coming months others will be held in: Bangkok , Ho Chi Minh City , Jakarta , Kuala Lumpur , Manila , and Beijing . Under Chatham House confidentiality Rules, the roundtables are an excellent platform for investors to share the current state of affairs for Asian sustainable finance and SRI and devise ways to overcome market challenges. The Roundtables are open to investment professionals and a select group of other stakeholders, by invitation only. To express an interest in attending, contact us.
Finally, we want to flag our progress with the Low Carbon Investment in Asia (LCIA) project, with sponsorship from the British G overnment’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). We recently submitted a draft Summary Report, which provides an overview of the key issues for investors due to climate change and the shift to a low-carbon economy in Asia . We are scheduling one-on-one briefings with investors in Shanghai , Hong Kong , Singapore and Mumbai and developing a portal where investment professionals can learn about climate change investment implications and receive CPT credit. For those interested to support this research and engagement project, please contact us.
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