Introduction

How can we best prepare for the risks and possibilities in order to set achievable sustainability goals?

Well, MORAL MONEY SUMMIT ASIA 2023 is one of the most-awaited Fintech events of the year.

The conference would attract over a thousand Chairs, CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, worldwide investors, corporate representatives, and policy leaders. Keynote speeches, panels, and interviews will all be presented by journalists from the Financial Times. The topic will examine how the sector can adapt to ensure that the momentum gained in the area of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) does not sputter in the face of shifting global priorities.

10 Key questions to be addressed in this 2023 event

1) Given the region’s wide range of development levels, how can Asia set achievable sustainability goals?

• How much have ESG programs changed in response to new laws and economic shifts?
• When faced with a climate emergency, how should governments and businesses allocate their limited resources?
• What would the monetary and social gains be from taking action, and what would the losses be from doing nothing?
• How much easier has it been for the region to make the shift to greater sustainability thanks to the agreements on “loss and damage” funding and reduced emission targets?
• How have stumbling blocks such as the current war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the epidemic slowed down development?

2) Is there enough environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reform being driven by current trends in supply chain management in Asia?

From footwear to computer chips, Asia plays a crucial role in many industries worldwide supply chains. However, direct suppliers in the region, as well as the subcontractors of suppliers, are coming under closer scrutiny as international corporations work to comply with increasing ESG rules. There are a few that just can’t cut it.

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• In what ways and why are businesses utilizing ESG measures all the way through the supply chain?
• Do new approaches to supply chain management in Asia result in adequate ESG transformation across the value chain?
• How can businesses effectively put a stop to or prevent such breaches from happening?
• Where do Asian suppliers most commonly break ESG guidelines?
• In order to implement circular practices, how can they work together with tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers?
• How can Asian businesses best monitor and attain ESG targets in their supply chains?

3) ESG strategy development and implementation: closing the gap

Corporate leaders in Asia are responding to rising sustainability concerns by developing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) plans to make their businesses more diverse, open, and environmentally responsible. The shadow, however, lies between the making of such lofty goals and their actual realization. How can top-level management close the gap?

• What are the most important parts of an ESG plan that top-level management should prioritize?
• Can we talk about how the current economic slump has impacted ESG strategy implementation?
•  How should multinational corporations in Asia develop ESG strategies? Can successful methods from elsewhere just be slightly modified?
• Have businesses adjusted their ESG response to the pandemic?

4). Confronting human rights violations and forced labor

Businesses and investors should stay away from companies and suppliers that violate human rights or use forced labor. Nevertheless, many Western corporations, asset managers, and pension funds have fallen into the same trap in Asia. The cloud has fallen even on “green” industries like solar panel production.

• As part of ESG frameworks and international human rights agreements, how can companies and investors improve their compliance with these ethical commitments?
• Which human rights abuses are most commonly reported by Asian suppliers and investment targets, and why are these issues problematic for businesses and investors?
• How can people make sure they aren’t unwittingly supporting businesses that engage in human rights abuses or utilize forced labor?
• What would happen if they didn’t, and how would they deal with the repercussions if that happened?

5)What steps can investors, government officials, and businesses do to increase ESG integration in Asia?

Asia has tremendous room for growth in its ESG framework until it is on par with that of Europe and the United States. The region’s policymakers are making this possible by imposing stricter ESG rules on firms and investors. Without a doubt, the regulatory authorities in certain nations are ahead of the curve.

• How is the most notable transparency and disclosure legislation in Asia changing the ESG landscape in the region?
• How are governmental efforts in Asia bringing them closer to a net zero energy footprint?
• What further can be done?

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6) Greenwashing: How to Spot and Stop It

The worldwide demand for environmentally friendly products and services has increased the scrutiny placed on businesses that provide them to ensure they are ESG compliant. However, due to a lack of regulation, established criteria, and transparency, some companies have inflated (or even made up) their environmental friendliness. Many financiers have also engaged in greenwashing.

• Without regard to government intervention, how can companies and investors create effective ESG strategies? What makes this an absolute requirement?
• How can investors increase their focus on target companies’ and funds’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures?
• Is there an increase in efforts by Asian regulators to oversee, monitor, and prosecute greenwashing cases?
• How can businesses establish a routine of disclosures to protect themselves from legal action and regulatory scrutiny?

7) Benefiting society and the environment through technological innovation

• How can they be put to use so that the greatest good can be done for people and the economy?
• Which Asian industries are benefiting the most from cutting-edge tech?
• How do new technological start-ups find money to launch their businesses? Do they pose a threat to established tech companies, or do they work in tandem with them?
• To revitalize underserved communities and promote sustainability across industries, technology can serve as a game-changing resource.
• How can we best direct the benefits of emerging technologies to benefit the planet?
• How can financiers verify that the IT firms they back actually improve people’s lives and the planet?
• How do you see the future of IT companies making a difference in the world?

8) Why and how to invest in women

As a result of the ongoing climate catastrophe and pandemic, women in Asia are in a more precarious position than ever before, and long-standing gender biases in areas such as the workforce, higher education, and property ownership have been exacerbated. As low-wage manufacturing jobs, worker remittances, and access to credit all dry up in the global economic slump, women’s already precarious financial stability has taken a hit.

• How can we get more women involved in formulating economic policy?
• When it comes to closing the gender funding gap, how can public and private investors find the right goods to back?
• To what extent do investors prioritize financial or non-financial returns?
• How can organizations improve the status of women in the workplace? What effect would that have on the efficiency and competitiveness of the business?
• How difficult would it be to implement this technique in Asia? What makes this so crucial to the region’s future?
• How can government agencies and banks better encourage women to take part in their communities economic and social life?
• How is private capital, such as that provided by venture capital and private equity firms, promoting long-term economic development in Asia?

9) Due to the worldwide sustainability movement, more and more businesses and consumers are opting for ESG-friendly options.

This has created a promising market for venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) in Asia to invest in green startups, particularly those working with cutting-edge technologies.

• When it comes to measuring the environmental and social impact of their investments, how are Asia’s venture capital and private equity firms measuring up? How can they protect themselves from greenwashing and market segmentation?
• Given the diversity of Asia’s economies and regions, where is venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) having the biggest impact on green industries?
• When compared to other emerging markets, how do VC and PE investments in Asia’s sustainability-linked sectors stack up?
• Is there evidence that VC/PE firms are making investors feel more at ease and encouraging their target companies to become more ESG compliant?

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10) Do the benefits of doing business in China and investing there outweigh the potential dangers?

There is little doubt that billions of dollars have been invested in China’s ESG-related businesses and funds. Even though the country’s ESG business is still in its infancy and ESG knowledge is generally poor, the prospects are enticing. Isn’t there any danger in that?

• What markets have the best potential for launching new ESG goods and services?
• Where are the greatest dangers, and what can be done to lessen them?
• Lower values and outflows are being seen in China, despite the fact that it is one of the largest markets for climate funds globally. How can it stop this downward spiral?
• The question is whether or not Chinese policymakers and regulators have done enough to build sustainability frameworks and taxonomies in light of the opportunities and threats they have identified.
• In what ways are they collaborating with ESG startup founders to develop a sustainable business environment?

Conclusion

It is crucial for policy, principle, and profit to converge in order for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rules to integrate properly into Asia’s industry and society.

When it comes to creating a comprehensive ESG framework and limiting negative climate, governance, and social practices, the area lags behind both Europe and the United States. Asia is an integral part of the global supply chain, a booming consumer market, and a significant source of money, making this a perplexing situation for investors and enterprises.

Those in attendance will walk away from the event feeling reenergized and ready to take on the world with a renewed international banking network and new approaches to achieving success in an ever-changing environment.

Please let us know if there are any particular topics that you are keen in exploring during the event. We intend to make arrangements to ensure the events and marketing team hears your thoughts on the matter.

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[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]