Increase investment in Thailand or risk missing UN Sustainable Development Goals: Research

“The $50 Trillion Question” investigates how some of the world’s biggest asset managers – with a combined US$50 trillion in assets under management (AUM) – are investing at this critical time for the global economy and environment.
The research is based on a survey conducted between July and August 2020, among a panel of the world’s top 300 investment firms with total assets under management (AUM) of more than US$50 trillion.
It found that 20 per cent are unaware of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Meanwhile only 13 per cent of their $50 trillion of investment is linked to the SDGs
Just 22 per cent of the AUM is invested in Asia.
The lack of investment in emerging markets puts the chances of meeting the 2030 SDG deadline at risk.
Of those already investing in the largest emerging Asean markets (Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia), 39 per cent say they will likely increase their investment in the future. Thailand was seen as particularly attractive with 45 per cent of high-growth investors.
The research also shows Covid-19 may have made it even harder for emerging markets to get the investment they need. Some 70 per cent of investors believe the pandemic has widened the capital gap further.