Amundi Targets Asian Debt Markets with New ESG Bond Fund

Managed by Joevin Teo, the fund focuses on both local and external debt while employing active currency management. The strategy taps into a vast investment universe spanning 15 countries, encompassing more than 500 corporate issuers alongside a dozen sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities. Amundi positions this launch as a response to the shifting global economic center, noting that Asia’s share of world GDP has surged to nearly 30 percent, up from less than 10 percent at the turn of the millennium.

To manage non-financial risks, the fund mandates a minimum 90 percent coverage for extra-financial analysis and requires specific allocations to green, social, and sustainability bonds. Yerlan Syzdykov, head of emerging markets at Amundi, emphasized that the region’s growth trajectory and the rising demand for sustainable debt products make this a strategic entry point for investors in both Europe and Asia. The fund is currently registered for sale in 11 jurisdictions, including France, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.