Welcome Letter from:
TESSA TENNANT
Chair, ASrIA

Dear Friends,

It is a true pleasure to invite you to join us this year in Tokyo. We have chosen to hold ASrIA’s 2002 international conference in Tokyo because Japan already has a thriving sustainable investment community that is helping to promote SRI more widely in the region.

We aim to hold an event where two critical dimensions to SRI in Asia will be discussed. The first involves business itself and centres on the question of what SRI means in an Asian context. What are the priorities for SRI here and are they different to other parts of the world? The second examines the relevance of SRI to pensions management in Asia. Indeed the latter is such a vital issue that we will be releasing a report on this topic at the conference. Additionally you can learn about the market opportunity for SRI as the pensions market in Japan opens up.

In choosing to sponsor the conference, Mr Kaneko, President of Nikko Cordial Group said, "the ASrIA conference is a marked event on the Japanese calendar this year and one which our Group wholeheartedly supports. It is the first international attempt to deepen the sustainability debate in Japan with a focus on the business and financial community." I cannot say it better than that. Through SRI we do want to deepen the sustainability debate and not just in Japan. This is the purpose of the conference.

And this event is not simply a debate. We aim for delegates to leave the conference inspired with new ideas and contacts and with practical actions they can take away. So book early to avoid disappointment. I look forward to welcoming you at the magnificent UN University buildings, or at the onsen!

Best regards,

Tessa Tennant
Chair
ASrIA

Education: The Conference will provide theoretical and practical guidance on SRI in Asia - trends, developments, the regulatory environment and insights on the underlying issues.

Practice: Attend the Conference and learn how to apply SRI. The business case is compelling and commercial opportunities will follow. Play a role in defining SRI in Asia.

Networking: A rare opportunity to tap the knowledge of global and Asian experts and practitioners in the field of SRI.

Feedback from our 2001 Inaugural Annual Conference:

“It was a really amazing trip, and conference! I learned so much, and met an incredible array of people... Congratulations on a highly successful launch...Thank you for your ground-breaking efforts. It's a honor to be part of them.” Sirkka Korpela, Director, UNDP Business Partnerships

"I found the conference most enlightening and congratulations on a very positive step to increasing SRI awareness in Asia." Barbara Krumsiek, CEO Calvert, USA

“A great initiative and enormous success! Clearly, SRI is coming to Asia… From UNDP's and the Global Compact's part, we will be very supportive of your efforts." Garth Collier, Director of Global Investor Relations, PCCW