Emerging Markets ESG: Emerging Markets ESG is dedicated to the analysis, benchmarking, development and promotion of reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) indicators in emerging markets.

“Climate fund targets $2.5 billion in clean energy investment for SE Asia” – Reuters – July 29, 2020

By Geoffrey on July 29, 2020

On July 29, 2020 Reuters reported that a “new climate fund backed by philanthropic donors is aiming to trigger $2.5 billion of clean energy investment in Southeast Asia and aid the region’s green recovery after the coronavirus.

The South East Asia Clean Energy Facility (SEACEF) is managed by Singapore-based Clime Capital, with an initial investment of $10 million and a focus on getting new projects underway in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

‘We need to mobilise billions to make a meaningful impact on climate change,’ said Mason Wallick, Clime Capital’s managing director, who sits on the SEACEF investment committee.”

You may read the article on the Reuters internet site.

“Qatar- QSE developing sustainability, ESG benchmark for listed companies” – MENAFN – July 29, 2020

By Geoffrey on July 29, 2020

On July 29, 2020 Middle East North Africa Financial Network, Inc (MENAFN) – Gulf Times reported that “(t)he Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) is developing a sustainability benchmark index for the listed companies as the country has promising potential to be a niche ESG (environment social governance) market in the region.

‘We are working with market participants to develop a sustainability and ESG benchmark index for the QSE listed companies,’ according to Mohsin Mujtaba, director (Product and Market Development), the QSE.

A joint report by the Qatar Financial Center (QFC) and Refinitiv found that the sustainable or ESG investment is burgeoning, with a market valued at $30.7tn in 2018 and expected to surge in years ahead.

‘The $31tn sustainable/ ESG investment market presents Qatar with an opportunity to establish a niche market in the region,’ it said.

Despite this growth, sustainable investments remain a niche segment in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East and North Africa regions, ‘offering Qatar a prime opportunity to establish itself as a destination for sustainable investments, which would attract both issuers and investors to its capital markets,’ it said.

The mandatory ESG reporting requirement for listed companies in Qatar serves as a stepping stone towards this objective, the report said.”

You can read the article on the MENAFN internet site.