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CAPITAL market players will on Friday converge to deliberate on sustainable investment as the country takes steps towards developing guiding principles on Responsible and Sustainable Investment in Zimbabwe.
The guidelines on sustainable investment will be in line with the United Nations Principles on Responsible Investment.
The conference is organised by the Institute for Sustainability Africa (Insaf) in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, Institute of Directors in Zimbabwe and other partners.
Dubbed the “2015 Shareholders Forum and Responsible Investing in Zimbabwe Conference”, the dialogue seeks to encourage responsible and sustainable investing in Zimbabwe by encouraging active shareholders (including minorities) and investors’ participation in companies they invest, while encouraging consideration of environmental, social and governance issues in investing decisions.
“The conference is part of a bigger and long-term goal of developing guiding principles for responsible and sustainable investing in Zimbabwe.
“This conference is targeted at a broad range of institutional shareholders, investors, minority shareholders, business leaders, companies and capital markets stakeholders,” conference organiser and Insaf chief executive Mr Rodney Ndamba said.
The United Nations describes responsible investment as an approach to investment that explicitly acknowledges the relevance to the investor of environmental, social and governance factors, and the long-term health and stability of the market as a whole.
It recognises that the generation of long-term sustainable returns is dependent on stable, well-functioning and well governed social, environmental and economic systems.
“It is driven by a growing recognition in the financial community that effective research, analysis and evaluation of ESG issues is a fundamental part of assessing the value and performance of an investment over the medium and longer term.
“This analysis should inform asset allocation, stock selection, portfolio construction, shareholder engagement and voting.
“Responsible investment requires investors and companies to take a wider view, acknowledging the full spectrum of risks and opportunities facing them, in order to allocate capital in a manner that is aligned with the short and long-term interests of their clients and beneficiaries,” the UN says.
Key presenters at the conference will include United Nations principles on responsible investing network manager for Sub-Saharan Africa Mr Adrian Bertrand; independent shareholder, activist and consultant with CA-Governance, (South Africa) Mr Theo Botha and Global Reporting Initiatives – Africa Office (South Africa) director Mr Douglas Kativu.
SecZim and the ZSE will also make presentations at the conference.
Online Reporter