Saturday, April 15, 2006

New Sector Report Helps Investors Assess Corporate Responsibility in Asia


The Association of Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA) has released a new report offering investors guidance on assessing environmental, social, and governance factors in Asian businesses.

The report Taking Stock, funded by the International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, addresses new areas for value creation and risk into analysis across eight sectors: automobiles; banking; metals and mining; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; power; pulp, paper, and timber; supply chain; and technology. It highlights key themes for sustainability investments in Asia, as well as current disclosure norms and opportunities for global investors.

"Over the past decade, global and Asian investors have become more aware of the impact of environmental, social, and governance variables on their investments," said Melissa Brown, ASrIA's executive director. "Whether it is a question of watching companies struggle with persistent environmental challenges or evaluating the impact of labor disputes, investors in Asian equities must increasingly look at a range of global sustainability issues to assess the long-term value of companies."

See full Article.