The launch of the ASEAN Green Bond Standards (AGBS) was held in conjunction with the Conference. The AGBS were developed based on ICMA’s Green Bond Principles (GBP) tailored to meet the needs and commitment of ASEAN. The AGBS label is to be used only for issuers and projects in the region and specifically excludes fossil fuel-related projects.
A recent joint study by the World Bank and the ACMF confirmed the huge potential for green financing in ASEAN with global green bond issuances projected to increase to US$1 trillion by 2020.
Ranjit Ajit Singh, Chair of ACMF, said “ASEAN must grow in a responsible and sustainable manner. Growth cannot come at the expense of our future generations. We need to support efforts to protect the environment and the ASEAN Green Bond Standards will help in the allocation of resources towards climate friendly investments. I am also pleased to announce that the SEC Philippines has committed to signing on to the ASEAN MOU on Collective Investment Scheme (CIS), joining Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.”
“At the same time, at its 27th ACMF Meeting held yesterday, the ACMF also agreed to facilitate greater mobility of capital market professionals. This initiative will culminate in a pathway that allows professionals licensed by an ACMF member to provide designated services in another member’s jurisdiction without having to meet additional requirements,” Ranjit added.
Martin Scheck, Chief Executive, ICMA, commented, “We welcome the alignment of AGBS with Green Bond Principles, representing voluntary international guidelines that recommend transparency and disclosure, and promoting integrity in the green bond market. We also congratulate ACMF’s remarkable initiative to introduce the ASEAN Green Bond Standards, and to promote the development of ASEAN Green Bonds and their compatibility with the international market.”
Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), via its wholly-owned subsidiary PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd, is the first issuer in the region to have pledged to adopt the AGBS for its sukuk issuance to finance the construction of the Warisan Merdeka Tower, the third tallest building in the world upon completion.
The ACMF remains committed to increasing ASEAN connectivity and facilitating the development of market solutions by engaging and collaborating with industry and stakeholders through dialogue. It will also increase its interactions with the Industry Consultative Panels that it established to gather industry input for its proposals.
SECURITIES COMMISSION MALAYSIA
