Driving ESG Movements in Major Asian Financial Hubs | A Conversation with Agnes K Y Tai

Boardroom&Beyond Podcast

In this episode, Lyndsey talks with Agnes Tai, Senior Partner of Yaozhi Asset Management International and an ESG thought leader. And Agnes has been a sustainable investor for many years.

Conversation of this episode is focusing on how government, local organizations and investors drive ESG movement in major Asian finance hubs.

Conversation Highlights

• How Agnes started Sustainable Investment and latest career with Yaozhi Asset Management (1:30)

• Different terms – responsible investing, sustainable investing, impact investing, ESG (3:30)

• PRI signatories rapid increasing in Asian countries
• Growing Number of PRI signatories in different Asian countries (3:30)
• Sustainable investing growing trend (9:45)

• How Asian countries governments drive ESG PRI signatories?
  • Major Asian countries’ ESG engagement status (12:10)
  • Transparency and disclosure are the key for effective ESG enforcement (14:20)
  • Asian countries are racing for leading roles in ESG and sustainable reporting (16:00)

• How Asian asset management firms influence ESG performance? (17:35)
  • Long-term value creating for portfolio companies (18:10)
  • Japan Case study (JPIF) started sustainable pension fund in 2016

• How Asian investors weight financial return vs. ESG performance? (25:30)
  • MSCI China ESG Index show good ESG performance leads to high financial return (26:10)
  • HK Fund manager code of conduct regulation in the next 12 months (28:00)
  • MSCI new reports focus on E and S factors (29:00)

Guest Contact Information

Agnes K Y Tai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnestai/