On November 5, the ASEAN Sustainable Investment Forum concluded two days of discussions organized by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Investment, with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat. The forum serves as a platform for the exchange of information and best practices on initiatives promoting sustainable investment.

It also aims to strengthen the analytical support and technical capacity of ASEAN Member States in the design and implementation of policies that promote sustainable investment. Such investments will support ASEAN's recovery, build more sustainable economies and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The forum was organized in collaboration with speakers and resource staff from the ASEAN-Japan Center, the ASEAN-Korea Center, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Economic and Social Committee of United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region and the World Economic Forum. Representatives of ASEAN departments, international organizations, as well as private sector agencies attended the forum.

As the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic crisis in 2020 has paralleled Southeast Asia's prolonged period of economic growth, the economic recovery has been witnessed in 2021. Although the sustainability of the recovery remains uncertain and depending  on many factors, including containment of the pandemic and various policy supports. The ability to continue to attracting sustainable investments will be critical to the recovery of ASEAN economies. This development has also transforms the capacity of countries around the world, including ASEAN Member States, to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, an initiative adopted by the Leaders of 193 countries at the United Nations in September 2015, providing “a framework for common action for people, planet and prosperity to be undertaken by all nations and all stakeholders, acting in a cooperative partnership”.

As part of the region's efforts to address these challenges, the ASEAN Leaders at the 37th ASEAN Summit on 12 November 2020 adopted the ASEAN Comprehensive Resilience Framework (ASEAN). ACRF), which calls for an integrated and coordinated crisis exit strategy. Sustainability is one of the key themes in ACRF's priorities, initiatives and programs. ACRF recognizes that properly managed and implemented sustainable investment improves economic and social resilience to future shocks. Based on the ACRF Implementation Plan, the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Investment (CCI) organizes the implementation of “Discover investment promotion initiatives that contribute to sustainable development goals, such as ASEAN Guide to Sustainable Investment.” Furthermore, one of the initiatives under the ASEAN Investment Work Program 2016-2025, adopted by the 19th ASEAN Council of Economic Ministers (AEM) ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) on 3rd May. In August 2016, CCI is expected to conduct policy dialogues on new areas and emerging issues in investment rulemaking such as responsible business behavior and sustainable development, in order to achieve the results of “aggressive and proactive investment policy making in the region”.

According to ACRF, the main objective of the Forum is to promote responsible and sustainable investment in ASEAN. This will support ASEAN's recovery, build more sustainable economies and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. According to the Investment Working Program, the next item is to strengthen analytical support and technical capacity for investment policy making and addressing investment issues in the region. Specifically, this will assist CCI in the discussion, design and implementation of policies that promote sustainable investment.