ASEAN Stock Exchanges are committed to enhancing the sustainability and integration of the regional stock markets to boost the region’s global competitiveness. Six major ASEAN stock exchanges – Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—agreed during the 37th ASEAN Exchanges CEOs Meeting on four Proof-of-Concepts (POCs) set to be implemented over the next three years. These POCs include: establishing a harmonized ASEAN data infrastructure, creating a standardized ASEAN ESG curriculum to support listed issuers, promoting transition financing for corporates’ suppliers through incentivized quality reporting, and introducing ASEAN ESG awards.
In addition, the ASEAN Exchanges will enhance regional market connectivity by offering Depository Receipts (DRs), certificates representing shares of foreign company traded on the domestic stock exchange, aimed at expanding domestic investors’ access to opportunities in neighboring countries. This builds on the successful DR linkage between the Singapore and Thailand stock exchanges in 2023 , paving the way for regional expansion.
The region’s commitment to sustainability has improved by the growing participation in the ASEAN-Interconnected Sustainability Ecosystem (ASEAN-ISE). Initially launched with a memorandum of understanding between Bursa Malaysia, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in September 2023, the initiative has since welcomed the Singapore Exchange (SGX Group) in February 2024 and the Philippines Stock Exchange (PSE) in July 2024. This significant development highlights ASEAN’s commitment to integrating common ESG metrics into the data infrastructures, fostering a transparent and cohesive framework for sustainability reporting. Furthermore, the ASEAN Exchanges Website has been refreshed to serve as a gateway to ASEAN investments, offering ASEAN market insights and major developments.
