23 July 2020 – Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), held a virtual launch of an initiative to spur growth of Malaysia’s sustainable and responsible financing ecosystem. The Malaysian Sustainable Finance Initiative (MSFI) was jointly launched by Datuk Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, Chairman of CMM, and His Excellency Charles Hay, British High Commissioner to Malaysia.
The MSFI is funded by the Capital Market Development Fund and the UK Government’s Prosperity Fund ASEAN Low Carbon Energy Programme. This initiative will support capacity development for Malaysia’s financial sector through workshops and training courses to foster greater understanding of financing solutions through the lens of environmental, social and governance factors, which take into account not only financial considerations but also impact on the environment and society.
“The reality of the effects of climate change has made it imperative for us globally to shift towards more sustainable and responsible practices. The MSFI aims to support efforts of Malaysia’s financial sector to further develop multiple financing avenues to fund businesses and projects that are aligned to the sustainability agenda such as the UN SDGs.”, said Datuk Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, chairman of CMM.
This initiative will also provide a digital platform for collaboration and the sharing of knowledge and expertise on new financing trends, products and services that prioritise sustainability, and societal wellbeing whilst ensuring good governance practices.
