ESG Practices in ASEAN & Korea: Pathways Towards Sustainability

In recent years, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria have emerged as crucial metrics for evaluating the sustainability and ethical impact of businesses and investments, gaining significant prominence in the global business landscape, including within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Asia School of Business and the ASEAN Center at the Korea University Asiatic Research Institute collaborated on a research initiative. As an intergovernmental organisation mandated to promote trade and investment between the two regions, this collaboration led to the release of the guidebook 'ESG Practices in ASEAN and Korea: Pathways Towards Sustainability’. The guidebook aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for navigating ESG trends and practices. It is expected to support stakeholders in the ESG ecosystem, including policymakers, investors, and consumers, in responding to the growing demands for understanding and incorporating ESG practices.

The report addresses the following research questions, exploring them at a broad ASEAN-wide level and later delving into individual country and sectoral investment guides:

1. What are the trends and drivers of ESG practices in the ASEAN region?
2. How do ESG policies, including incentives, affect ESG practices and investment performance in ASEAN?
3. What are the barriers to ESG adoption in ASEAN, especially among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and which best practices can help overcome them?

As a contributor to this publication, RSM Singapore is pleased to have offered valuable perspectives on the ESG landscape in Singapore and ASEAN.

Read the full report on ESG Practices in ASEAN and Korea: Pathways Towards Sustainability here.