ASrIA Inaugural Conference, Introduction

Welcome Letter From Tessa Tennant, Chair ASrIA

Agenda Overview for 31 October to 3 November

ASrIA Inaugural Conference, Detailed Agenda, including speakers, presentations and forum discussions

Brief Introduction to ASrIA & SRI in Asia

Conference Registration

Conference Registration Form

A 'ROUGH GUIDE' FOR DELEGATES

 

 

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO ASrIA & SRI IN ASIA

What is ASrIA?

ASrIA is a not for profit, membership association dedicated to promoting sustainable and responsible investment within the Asian capital markets. It is committed to raising awareness of SRI in Asia and its importance to the region's economic development. ASrIA will inspire and lead both the debate and practice of SRI. Through its members, it will help to define the standards for SRI in Asia.

ASrIA will create a visible community of interested individuals and organisations, providing a platform for constructive dialogue. Through the website, www.asria.org and through conferences, workshops and seminars ASrIA will continuously drive the learning process and will be a crucial resource for all members. Supported by the leading international SRI practitioners, ASrIA will promote global best practice in Asia from the outset.

What is SRI?

Sustainable investment seeks to encompass wider social and environmental considerations in the investment process. By allowing investors to integrate concerns, such as social justice, economic development, and a healthy environment, with conventional financial considerations, this triple bottom line approach yields both financial and societal benefits.

In Asia, SRI is a key market mechanism for achieving sustainability. The Asian financial crisis has shown that economic growth without accounting for its unscrupulous excesses is not sustainable. SRI fosters a market culture which rewards sustainable enterprise, thereby making economic growth a more stable and enduring phenomenon.

SRI Facts

"$2.16tn invested in SRI in the US" US SIF Trends Report 1999

UK legislates for compulsory SRI disclosure for all pension funds in 2000

Nine SRI funds launched in Japan in last two years.

Dow Jones and FTSE have launched SRI indices

Domini Index outperforms S&P 500 over a 3, 5 & 10 year horizon.

The assets of socially responsible mutual funds grew about five times faster than those of all other funds for the last thirty years.