ESG-related investments to grow amid fears of global recession, Russia-Ukraine conflict — PwC Malaysia economist
Fears of a global recession, coupled with the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, presents an opportunity for investors to look at environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related investments, according to PwC Malaysia deals partner of economics and policy Patrick Tay Soo Eng.
普华永道马来西亚交易伙伴经济和政策 Patrick Tay Soo Eng表示，对全球经济衰退的担忧，加上俄罗斯和乌克兰之间持续的冲突，为投资者提供了一个关注环境、社会和治理（ESG）相关投资的机会。
Other investments in Malaysia could be impacted if economic conditions continue to deteriorate amid ongoing uncertainties, but the focus on ESG investments will continue to grow, he told the media after the Malaysian Investment Development Authority's (MIDA) panel discussion on the ESG agenda on 2nd Aug.
他8月2日在马来西亚投资发展局（MIDA）关于 ESG 议程的小组讨论后告诉媒体，如果经济状况在持续的不确定性中继续恶化，马来西亚的其他投资可能会受到影响，但对 ESG 投资的关注将继续增长。
"What I see on the ground is that people may be taking a pause in other investments, but they are planning their projects using ESG as a strategy [going] forward. They see ESG investments as the long-term trend.
“我在实地看到的是，人们可能会暂停其他投资，但他们正在计划他们的项目，将 ESG 用作 [前进] 战略。他们将 ESG 投资视为长期趋势。
"I see investors responding to the current food crisis [amid inflation]. They are thinking about how to restructure their business and make a series of investments [in ESG] to triple productivity to reduce the foreign labour problem and so on.
“我看到投资者在应对当前的粮食危机[在通货膨胀的情况下]。他们正在考虑如何重组他们的业务并进行一系列投资 [in ESG] 以将生产力提高三倍以减少外国劳动力问题等等。
"For example, if I am under stress, what do I do? I try to cut costs, right. So, ESG strategies are a good way to reduce costs over the long term. I think the smarter investors would focus on that, and that's what we are seeing," he said.
“例如，如果我有压力，我该怎么办？我会否努力削减成本。所以ESG 策略是长期降低成本的好方法。我认为更聪明的投资者会关注这一点，并且这就是我们所看到的，”他说。
MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman, in his welcome address, said Malaysian companies are encouraged to embrace ESG elements because they are an increasingly important factor in determining company valuation, as well as investors’ and consumers’ confidence.
MIDA 总执行长Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman,在欢迎辞中表示，鼓励马来西亚公司采用 ESG 元素，因为它们是决定公司估值以及投资者和消费者信心的越来越重要的因素。
“Companies are encouraged to continue embarking on green investments in the country by exploring sustainable investment opportunities in green technology areas, such as renewable energy sources which include solar, biomass, biogas, mini-hydro and other green technology-qualifying activities, such as energy efficiency, green buildings, green data centres and integrated waste management."
“鼓励公司继续在该国进行绿色投资，探索绿色技术领域的可持续投资机会，例如可再生能源，包括太阳能、生物质能、沼气、小型水电和其他符合绿色技术资格的活动，例如能源效率、绿色建筑、绿色数据中心和综合废物管理。”
From January to March, the government, through MIDA, successfully approved 212 green technology projects and services activities amounting to RM433 million, Arham said.
Arham 说，从 1 月至 3 月，政府通过 MIDA 成功批准了 212 个绿色技术项目和服务活动，总额达 4.33 亿令吉。
“[Meanwhile,] from 2001 to March 2022, MIDA approved investments related to green projects and green services amounting to RM35.5 billion, with 3,186 projects in total,” he added.
“[同时，]从 2001 年到 2022 年 3 月，MIDA 批准了与绿色项目和绿色服务相关的投资，总额达 355 亿令吉，共有 3,186 个项目，”他补充说。