Doing its part: AmBank Islamic CEO Eqhwan Mokhzanee (right) with YHM CEO Amin Abdullah at the unveiling of the collaboration between AmBank Group and YHM.
DEMONSTRATING its commitment to the goal of integrating sustainability into its business operations, AmBank Group recently held its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Day to engage with customers and investors on its ESG journey.
Themed “Forward Thinkers: Journeys That Converge”, the AmBank Group ESG Day is a platform that aims to bring together perspectives and insights to help elevate the key themes in the transition to a more sustainable financial future.
It was officiated by AmBank Group chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, who reflected on the evolution of the financial sector and emphasised that the heart of the group’s strategy lies in its commitment to sustainable growth that combines both financial and ESG considerations, in order to build long-term value for the bank and its stakeholders.
“At AmBank Group, our strategy and long-term vision are underpinned by our commitment to contribute to the greater good of our people and planet through responsible banking and business practices.
“This commitment is reflected in our Group Sustainability Agenda, where we actively consider ESG risks and impacts to create shared prosperity for the current and future generations without compromising our financial objectives,” added Datuk Sulaiman Mohd Tahir, the group chief executive officer (CEO) of AmBank Group.
Proactive action
Part of the group’s action plan in communicating its sustainability road map to its stakeholders and reaffirming its commitments, the AmBank Group ESG Day was split into a morning session for customers and an afternoon one for investors.
During the morning session with AmBank’s customers, the session addressed the basics of sustainability, discussed challenges and opportunities and showcased some of the customers embracing sustainability in their own ways.
Driving sustainability: (From top) Azman, Zameema, McCarron and Sulaiman during the recent virtual AmBank Group ESG Day, putting the spotlight on the group’s commitment to sustainable growth that combines both financial and ESG considerations.
This session included a presentation on the foundation and net-zero pathways for Malaysia by PwC Malaysia partner and Islamic finance leader Nik Shahrizal Sulaiman; SME Corp Malaysia economics and policy director Kausalya Gopal’s take on the opportunities and challenges for small and medium enterprises; PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd chief executive and managing director Datuk Seri Dr Michael Tio’s sharing on the logistics group’s pathway to sustainability and building and organisation of the future; as well as JB Cocoa Sdn Bhd’s Vincent Tang’s passionate account of the company’s sustainability journey.
The afternoon session, moderated by Asia Research and Engagement Pte Ltd’s Benjamin McCarron, saw the participation of Sulaiman, Bank Negara deputy governor Jessica Chew Cheng Lian, AmBank Group sustainability head Datin Zameema Ariff, Moody’s Analytics Europe, Middle East and Africa director Dr Dimitrios Papanastasiou, Petronas chief sustainability officer Charlotte Wolf-Bye and CDP regional director John Leong.
Towards a greener Malaysia
At its virtual ESG day, AmBank Group also made a special announcement of a collaboration between AmBank Group and Yayasan Hijau Malaysia (YHM), an agency under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA) that is carrying out the 100 million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021-2025 as part of the Greening Malaysia Programme.
Aiming to increase the awareness on the importance of forest area and to ensure the commitment to maintain forest area in Malaysia, it is an initiative by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources with cooperation from the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, state forest departments, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia and state governments.
AmBank Group has pledged to plant 780 Camphor trees as part of this collaboration, where a symbolic tree planting session was held earlier in January this year as a starting point.
Held at Taman Eko-Rimba Bukit Sg Puteh in Cheras, the session saw the participation of AmBank Group’s senior management and YHM.
