AICB and Scottish Organisation Join Forces to Host Ethical Finance ASEAN 2022

Kuala Lumpur (June 2022): The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) and the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) are collaborating to host the inaugural edition of the Ethical Finance ASEAN 2022 Summit, following a successful Southeast Asia showcase at Ethical Finance Global 2021.

This virtual event is complimentary and will be held on 29 June 2022. Themed “ESG in a Volatile World: Profit, Purpose or Politics?”, the Summit aims to elevate the financial industry’s role as a key player in advancing sustainability, responsible banking and the wider ESG agenda. Sign up now while registrations are still open — visit http://www.aicb.org.my/events/ef-2022 to register.

According to the ASEAN Secretariat, member states are “highly vulnerable” to climate change, with “significant climate change impacts” already being experienced within the region.

The ASEAN region is at risk of increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as floods, which threaten to undermine decades of economic progress. Responding to this challenge is a collective responsibility. The finance sector must play its part by facilitating the provision of climate finance and accelerating the pace of adoption of responsible banking practices in the ASEAN region.

Ethical Finance and nature

The Summit will feature experts on sustainable and responsible finance in the ASEAN region and beyond, who will participate in discussions on topics that include how the megatrends of 2022 are affecting ASEAN economies, what the core challenges for the ASEAN region are in financing climate adaptation and mitigation, the role of finance in addressing deforestation and nature-related financial risk in the region, the importance of leadership, and more. AICB is also delighted to announce that the Summit will feature the launch of the Guide for Malaysian Banks Supporting SMEs in the Sustainable Recovery from COVID-19, produced by GEFI for the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI).

Speakers include Jean-Marc Champagne, Head of Environmental Finance & Bankable Nature Solutions Asia Pacific, WWF-Hong Kong; Keith Lee, Senior Analyst, Sustainable Finance and ESG, CICERO Shades of Green, Norway; Dr Theresa Mundita Lim, Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Philippines; Rashyid Redza Anwarudin, Head, Group Sustainability, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad, Malaysia; Romie Goedicke, Project & Technical Manager, UNEP FI, Netherlands, and Rafe Haneef, Chief Executive Officer, Group Transaction Banking, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, CIMB Bank Berhad, Malaysia, among others.

AICB Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim says AICB is committed to helping finance professionals in ASEAN develop the skills they need to address the challenges of the 21st century, from climate to nature and more. “Bringing together leaders in sustainable and responsible finance, this Summit will help to foster the development of these vital skills going forward.”

For GEFI Managing Director and Co-Founder Omar Shaikh, the international collaboration with AICB is now in its second year, with our virtual Summit attracting 2,000 participants.

“The excellent speakers are sharing key insights and leading practice on the great work being done in the ASEAN region on sustainable finance, and exploring how international frameworks can better meet the needs of the ASEAN markets.”

As well as looking at macroeconomic issues impacting global markets, the Summit will feature discussions on the megatrends of 2022 and their effect on ASEAN economies; core challenges for the ASEAN region in financing climate adaptation and mitigation; the role of finance in addressing deforestation and nature-related financial risk in the region, with SDGs as a coordinating framework; the progress on financing the 2030 goals; the emergence of the “S” in ESG, and the importance of leadership and governance in transforming finance.