New collaboration to develop sustainable investment talent in Malaysia

19 December 2023 -  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  — The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM) and the Institutional Investors Council Malaysia (IIC), announced their partnership to develop the sustainable investment talent landscape in Malaysia.

This collaboration will support capacity building for 150 Malaysian investment professionals in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and responsible investment practice. It marks a global first for PRI’s new blended learning pilot programme, which combines in-person training, self-paced e-learning, and virtual classroom elements, to entrench the foundational principles of responsible investment and an understanding of ESG analysis and its practical application in day-to-day investment practices.

The ‘Responsible Investment in Practice’ programme is delivered and supported by the Sustainable Investment Platform (SIP), an initiative by CMM and the IIC established to support institutional investors and the fund management industry in building the depth of sustainable and responsible investment strategies which align financial returns with broader ESG priorities.

“This partnership is testament to the shared commitment of PRI and SIP, to elevate the standards of ESG fluency across the region and ensure that responsible investment training is substantive, meaningful and practical,” said Anthony Roberts, PRI’s director of Investor Education. “By leveraging a blend of traditional and cutting-edge learning methods, we are setting a new standard for professional development in the finance sector. The partnership underscores PRI’s commitment to fostering a global community of responsible investors, fluent in the language of ESG. Through collaborative, targeted initiatives like this, PRI continues to lead the way in shaping the future of responsible investment training, guidance and education.”

The training programme will draw on the PRI’s deep expertise and vast collection of materials, insights, and data to address a range of critical topics, including understanding the key drivers of responsible investment, assessing the materiality of ESG issues, and integrating ESG factors across investment decision-making processes. PRI’s investor education division, PRI Academy, has extensive experience training financial markets and investment industry professionals, with over 23,000 courses completed to date by learners in 88 different countries, and a 98% satisfaction rate.

Programme participants will gain knowledge centred around real world, practical application and case study-based learning, ensuring they are equipped to navigate the rapidly evolving responsible investment landscape.

Navina Balasingam, General Manager of CMM, an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), said, “While most Malaysian asset managers and asset owners have a sustainable investment policy in place, many have expressed the need for training and talent development to build capacity in technical areas such as incorporating ESG factors in investment analysis and portfolio construction. Our partnership with the PRI Academy underscores our commitment to support Malaysia’s institutional investors and fund managers in developing breadth and depth of expertise in sustainable investing practices.

Rejina Rahim, Advisor to the IIC said, “Institutional investors and fund managers have the ability to influence and affect real change in economies and societies. To successfully champion the sustainable investment agenda, we need the investment industry as a whole, to understand, embrace and advocate for the agenda. As such, it is imperative for investment professionals to be well-versed in sustainable investing in order to drive positive change in the industry. We believe this partnership will be a catalyst for broader adoption of responsible investment practices within our industry.”

More information on the programme.

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About Capital Markets Malaysia:

The Securities Com mission Malaysia (SC) set up Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM) in 2014 to spearhead the local and international positioning as well as profiling of the Malaysian capital market. Funded by the Capital Markets Development Fund, CMM showcases the competitiveness and attractiveness of the various segments of the Malaysian capital market – to promote international participation and enhance opportunities for domestic capital market intermediaries. CMM works to support the advancement of these entities through various initiatives and partnerships, focusing on four key areas: sustainable finance and investing, the Islamic capital market, the digital market, and capital market funding opportunities through the private market. For more information, visit the CMM website at https://www.capitalmarketsmalaysia.com/.

About the Institutional Investors Council:

The Institutional Investors Council (IIC) was formed on 3 July 2015 following the launch of the Malaysian Code for Institutional Investors (MCII) on 27 June 2014. The IIC is envisaged to play an important role to represent the common interests of institutional investors in Malaysia. This industry-led initiative will be a platform to shape and influence a wider sphere of corporate governance culture through among others, the effective adoption of the MCII. The establishment of the IIC is also in line with the recommendations of the Corporate Governance Blueprint 2011 launched by the SC in July 2011. The IIC was formally established under the Societies Act 1966 on 29 December 2017. For more information, visit the IIC website at https://www.iicm.org.my/

For media inquiries, please contact:

Duncan Smith, PRI Head of APAC Communications
E: [email protected]

Farina Farid, Head of Communications, Capital Markets Malaysia
M: +60 12-387 8574 E: [email protected]

Joanna Ambrose, Narro Communications
M: +6012 980 3154 E: [email protected]