TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 28, 2019

ESG investment has been implicitly and unsystematically undertaken among the ASEAN firms but it is promising, according to a study on the ESG Investment in the ASEAN region released by the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC).

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"ESG Investment: Towards Sustainable Development in ASEAN and Japan" issued by the ASEAN-Japan Centre (Graphic: Business Wire)

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment has gained momentum around the world and the force is moving towards Asia, especially in the ASEAN Member States. Against this backdrop, AJC, an intergovernmental organization of ASEAN and Japan based in Tokyo, issued a study “ESG Investment: Towards Sustainable Development in ASEAN and Japan” (https://www.asean.or.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/ESG_web.pdf) to urge investors to invest responsibly by understanding ESG investment and contribute to the better and sustainable investment environment and society in Japan and the ASEAN Member States.

Major messages of the study are as follows:

ESG investment is for all investors

Since ESG investment is originally from the financial market, it is commonly perceived that ESG investment is only for financial investors. However, ESG factors should be a priority for all investors, including investors in the real sector or entrepreneurs. ESG is not only important as a signal to investors, but, as it is conducive to business objectives and value-generating, it is crucial for maximizing profit for all companies. ESG can even help new companies and small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. Therefore, all companies, regardless of their sizes and whether they are listed on a stock market, should integrate ESG investment in their core business strategies and consider ESG investment as an essential part of the growth strategies.

ESG investment is moving away from niche to norm

There is growing demand for ESG investment around the world and gradually to Asia, especially ASEAN. In particular, ASEAN-5 shows a promising trend of ESG investment, whereas more efforts are necessary for the rest of the member states.

ESG investment associates with higher profitability

ESG investment helps firms lower costs and boost up revenues and profits. Our main finding shows that ESG firms’ profitability is, on average, higher than that of non-ESG firms. The ratio of net profits to total revenue is 11.4% for ESG firms as opposed to 9.6% for non-ESG firms.

ESG investment has been implicitly and unsystematically implemented among the ASEAN firms

This implies potential growth of ESG investment in ASEAN countries. The main challenge is that, even though, ESG factors are found in firms’ sustainability and governance strategies, those firms find difficulty to fully integrate ESG investment in their core business strategies. Therefore, further efforts should be spent on the explicit and systematic integration of ESG investment.

ESG investment is implemented creatively and innovatively among ASEAN entrepreneurs

AJC found that ASEAN ESG firms are very creative and innovative in integrating ESG investment in their business strategies. Taking into account ESG factors, they offer new business solutions and products to their clients, while utilizing new technology and innovation in their production.

ESG investment in ASEAN is promising; however, challenges remain

At present, ASEAN firms have not fully integrated ESG investment in their core business strategies. This challenge is constituted by several factors, including a) wrong perception towards ESG investment, b) limited capability to fully integrate ESG investment, and c) insufficient guideline and supports from exchanges and the government. In addition, there is still a weak link between the ESG investment and the achievement of the SDGs. Further progress by firms, exchanges, and policymakers is particularly important given this context. These challenges should be addressed urgently to take advantage of the growth potential for ESG investment.

ESG investment can be fully integrated into core business strategies through the following practical steps: a) changing perception towards ESG investment to recognize the increasing importance of and demand for ESG; b) planning for an effective ESG strategy by pursuing quantifiable targets and understanding sustainability issues faced by a specific business and industry; c) taking actions with creativity, flexibility, and innovation to turn challenges into opportunities; and d) working with peers and involve all stakeholders to make full use of the combined knowledge and economies of scale.

ESG investment should be further promoted and supported by exchanges and the government: Regulators and policymakers can help further the progress of ESG investment by a) communicating benefits of ESG investment as firms’ misperception towards ESG investment is among the top agenda; b) implementing a mandatory sustainability disclosure regulation for both listed and non-listed entities; c) providing specific guideline and supports, e.g. individual consultation session, a dialogue that includes all stakeholders, among others; d) evaluating firms’ ESG performance periodically to promote a competitive environment among firms and involve all stakeholders in the monitoring process; e) taking advantage of the digital age; and f) emphasizing the linkage between ESG investment and SDGs to create a better, more sustainable investment environment and society.

To download the paper, please visit the AJC website at

https://www.asean.or.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/ESG_web.pdf

ASEAN-Japan Centre

The ASEAN-Japan Centre is an intergovernmental organization established by the ASEAN Member States and Japan in 1981. It has been promoting exports from ASEAN to Japan while revitalizing investment, tourism as well as people-to-people exchanges between the ASEAN Member States and Japan.

URL: https://www.asean.or.jp/en/

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Contact:

ASEAN-Japan Centre
Junko Nukiyama
TEL +81-3-5402-8118
FAX +81-3-5402-8003
E-mail: toiawase_ga@asean.or.jp
1F, Shin Onarimon Bldg., 6-17-19 Shimbashi,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004 Japan