The ASEAN Capital Markets Forum has opened a public consultation on its ESG disclosure framework tailored for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in an effort to enhance sustainability reporting across ASEAN’s supply chains.
According to The Star, the consultation concerns the ASEAN Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (ASEDG), initially released in April 2025, and aims to gather feedback from financial institutions, investors, and corporate reporters. The feedback window will remain open until 12 September 2025, ahead of a planned update later this year.
ACMF said the feedback gathered will be reviewed and incorporated into a revised Version 2 of the ASEDG, which is scheduled for launch at the ACMF International Conference in November 2025.
“The ACMF expects to launch ASEDG Version 2 at the ACMF International Conference in November 2025,” it said.
The ASEDG was developed to provide SMEs with a user-friendly framework to communicate environmental, social and governance (ESG) data to key stakeholders such as customers, lenders and investors. By simplifying ESG disclosures, the framework supports growing calls for transparency within both global and local supply chains.
A key feature of the ASEDG is its consolidation of multiple ESG reporting frameworks and national guidelines into a streamlined set of 38 core disclosures. These have been selected as priorities for ASEAN-based SMEs, balancing global standards with regional relevance. The approach is particularly important as many SMEs often face resource constraints that make complex reporting requirements difficult to manage.
The ACMF’s effort underscores the increasing pressure on businesses of all sizes to align with sustainability practices and bolster ESG performance. The simplified guide is designed to make it easier for SMEs to adopt and implement ESG measures in a consistent and credible manner.
The public consultation is part of the ACMF’s broader strategy to promote inclusive, regionally aligned capital market development, and ensure SMEs remain competitive and resilient in the face of evolving investor expectations and regulatory landscapes.
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