Businesses in Southeast Asia are taking action to improve their track records on environmental and labour practices as socially responsible investment takes hold in global financial markets. Global investment focusing on environmental, social and governance issues topped $30 trillion in 2018, and Asian companies are eager to claim their share. Asian stock exchanges have also taken note, with 10 exchanges in eight countries requiring listed companies to report on ESG investments. That is more exchanges than in Europe, where sustainability-linked lending is more common. "Between 2016 and 2019, almost $13.7 billion was raised in 'impact' and ESG investing across 51 funds or so," said Thomas Lanyi, chairman of the Singapore Venture Capital & Private Equity Association. "Asia-focused funds represented half of the amount raised”. A Malaysian government official said that attracting ESG investment is important to Asia's growth and making its companies competitive.

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Nikkei Asian Review