Building on last year’s successful inaugural edition, AICB and the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) once again co-organised the Ethical Finance ASEAN 2023, which took place on 30 March 2023. Themed “Financing Transition”, this complimentary virtual summit convened experts on sustainable and responsible finance in the ASEAN region and beyond, and explored how financial institutions in the region can support Southeast Asian economies in their transition towards net zero. Discussions also covered the ASEAN Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, the importance of a social dimension to financing, nature and biodiversity, the role of Islamic finance, and the professional skills needed to deliver the transition.

EF ASEAN 2023 attracted over 1,500 delegates from over 90 countries from across the world. The esteemed line-up of speakers comprised, among others, leading financial and corporate leaders, academicians, analysts and policymakers from various institutions, including Tan Sri Azman Hashim, FCB, Chairman, Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, Malaysia; Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, Chairman, MIFC Leadership Council, Malaysia; Tatiana Didier, Senior Economist, World Bank Group, USA; Samir Suleymanov, Principal Lead, Climate Finance, COP28, USA; Datuk Yvonne Chia, FCB, AICB Council Member and Independent Non-Executive Chairman, Standard Charted Bank Malaysia Berhad; Adam Ng, Greening Financial Regulation Initiative (GFRI) Asia-Pacific Lead and Sustainable Finance Advisor (Malaysia), World Wide Fund for Nature; Angelia Chin-Sharpe, Chief Executive Officer, Head of South East Asia & Hong Kong Distribution, BNP Paribas Asset Management, Singapore; Cheng Lin, Director, Center for International Collaborations, Beijing Institute of Finance and Sustainability, China; Ella-Kara Brown, Investment Director, abrdn, UK; Eugene Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Finance Institute Asia, Malaysia; Gail Hurley, Director of Advisory, Finance Earth, UK; Dato' Lee Lung Nien, FCB, Chairman, South Asia, Citi Private Bank, Singapore; Liza Mydin, Head of Special Projects, Islamic Sustainable Finance, CEO Office, Maybank Islamic Berhad, Malaysia; Margie Ong, Chief Executive Officer, Thoughts In Gear (TIG), Malaysia; Olivier Trecco, Head of ASEAN, Japan, Pacific ESG Solutions Sustainable1, S&P Global, Singapore; Omar Shaikh, Managing Director, Global Ethical Finance Initiative, UK; Raja Amir Shah Raja Azwa, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad; Remi Fernandez, Specialist, Human Rights & Social Issues, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), UK and Simon Thompson, Chief Executive, Chartered Banker Institute, UK; Sylvi Gani, Director, Financing and Investment, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero), Indonesia.

Key highlights of the discussions covered: the new ASEAN sustainable finance taxonomy, how to mobilise private capital for climate finance, the risks and opportunities associated with nature financing, the need to consider the just transition and the potential of sustainable Islamic finance.

To view the programme agenda, click here.