KUALA LUMPUR: The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has issued Guidelines on Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) Funds to facilitate and encourage greater growth of SRI funds in Malaysia. The new guidelines, which enable funds to be designated as SRI funds, will widen the range of SRI products in the market and attract more investors in the SRI segment. According to the SC, with Islamic funds being recognised as part of the SRI universe, Malaysia is currently the largest SRI funds market in Asia (excluding Japan) with 30% share of the region's US$52bil fund assets. The SRI Funds Guidelines apply to fund products within the SC’s oversight, such as unit trust funds, real estate investment trust funds, exchange-traded funds, and venture capital and private equity funds. Fund managers that manage qualified SRI funds under these guidelines will be eligible for tax incentives as announced in the recent 2018 Budget, said the SC.

Source: The Star December 19, 2017 09:33 UTC