ASEAN Capital Markets Forum Charts Next Phase of Growth with New Five-Year Action Plan and Landmark Conference

Dato' Mohammad Faiz Azmi, ACMF Chair for 2025, said "The next five years will be pivotal for ASEAN's capital markets. Through AP 2026, we are building the foundations for a more connected, credible and competitive region - one that not only attracts global capital but channels it toward inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. The collaboration and commitment we've seen among ASEAN regulators reaffirm our shared vision of making our markets stronger together."

The ACMF International Conference 2025, officiated by His Excellency Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, Malaysia convened policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders to discuss the future of ASEAN capital markets. Discussions highlighted cross-border fundraising, climate transition finance, voluntary carbon markets, and the use of AI in regulatory supervision, underscoring ASEAN's growing leadership in sustainable finance and digital transformation.

Other key publications launched at the conference include:

• Version 2 of the ASEAN Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (ASEAN SEDG) for SMEs in Supply Chains, which has been refined following public consultation and serves to provide guidance to SMEs in preparing their ESG disclosures;
• A White Paper for the mitigation co-benefit and Adaptation for Resilience (mARs) Guide, developed with the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) in partnership with Sustainable Finance Institute Asia (SFIA), in close consultation with the ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB);
• Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Development Plan and ASEAN VCM Guidance, jointly developed with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to enhance transparency, integrity, and interoperability in regional carbon markets; and
• ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance Version 4, which included the technical screening criteria for the remaining three focus sectors and two enabling sectors of the ASEAN Taxonomy's Plus Standard, allowing complete coverage of Plus Standard.

At the 43rd ACMF Chairs Meeting, the ACMF also discussed matters relating to its participation in the Asia Green Transformation (GX) Consortium, continued its dialogue with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, and made progress in strengthening the ASEAN Collective Investment Scheme framework. Progress updates from the Corporate Governance Working Group as well as capacity building initiatives under the ACMF Market Development Programme were discussed. The latest developments on regulations relating to Digital Asset Oversight were also presented. The ASEAN Secretariat and the Asian Development Bank also presented their reports to the ACMF Chairs.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ACMF and ERIA to advance cooperation on research, policy development and capacity building in areas related to the 5 strategic thrusts within AP 2026. The two-day engagements concluded with the handover of the ACMF Chairmanship from the Securities Commission Malaysia to the Securities and Exchange Commission Philippines.