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FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT (SRI) CONFERENCE EVER HELD IN JAPAN

HONG KONG -- 18TH OCTOBER 2002 -- ASrIA, Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia, is holding the first international SRI conference in Japan on October 28th-29th 2002 at the United Nations University in Tokyo. Japan was chosen for this year's conference not only because of it's developing and vibrant SRI community and achievements, but also because of it's experience and the relevance of it's Asian perspective in SRI to the rest of the region.

Speakers and delegates include experienced SRI practitioners, financial experts, leading thinkers, corporate and community leaders from Japan, the Asian region, the USA and Europe. Key speakers from Japan include Mr. Yotaro Kobayashi, Chairman of the Board, Fuji Xerox; Mr. Masafumi Hikima, President and CEO, Nikko Asset Management, Mr. Hidetaka Kawakita, Director, Nippon Life Insurance and Mr. Alan Harden, Representative Director, Chairman and President, Citigroup Asset Management.

The conference will cover two main areas. (1) SRI and Corporates in Asia, highlighting the differences and similarities between SRI practice in Asia, Europe and the USA, with the aim of identifying some SRI values for Asia. (2) SRI and Savings Plans in Asia, exploring the dynamic between pension funds and SRI. A research report on this topic, SRI and Pensions in Asia will be released at the conference.

ASrIA's conference councillors in Japan are ERM Japan and The Good Bankers. ASrIA's conference partner is the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiatives. Conference sponsors are Citigroup Asset Management, Commerz International Capital Management (Japan), Daiwa Securities Group, International Finance Corporation, Jupiter Asset Management, Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management, Nikko Cordial Group. According to Mr. Masashi Kaneko, President of Nikko Cordial Group, "The ASrIA conference is the first international attempt to deepen the sustainability debate in Japan with a focus on the business and financial community." The event has also received the support of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.

The Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia is a non-profit members association dedicated to promoting sustainable investment practice in Asia.

ASrIA was established in 2001 by global SRI pioneer, Tessa Tennant. ASrIA membership is comprised of fund management houses, research groups, insurance groups, financial advisors, corporates, charities, NGOs and academic groups. The fund management groups that are members of ASrIA manage more than US$1 trillion in assets. ASrIA aims to develop the SRI industry in Asia, breaking down barriers and increasing investors' choice of SRI products.

SRI is sustainable and responsible investment, or socially responsible investment. In Japan, there are 11 SRI fund options for sale, for a total of approximately US$1 billion at current market valuations.

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