In this special report we speak to David Knights, Head of Asia Distribution at Investors Trust. He is someone who understands the region better than most. Based in Hong Kong but operating across the region, Knights and his team have experienced a rollercoaster
ello and welcome to the latest International Investment Spotlight on Asia, sponsored by Investors Trust and
KBI Global Investors.
H
Welcome to Asia
Welcome to Asia
International Investment Publisher Gary Robinson
introduces this Spotlight on Asia report
Publisher,
International Investment
Gary Robinson
Publisher
International Investment
period, but by focusing on the long term have been able to help advisers and their clients stay on track amid the uncertainty.
In our interview, Knights talks about how the company has 'weathered the storm' during the pandemic and post-pandemic period in the region, where movement was particularly difficult in recent times and restrictions have lasted much longer than other parts of the globe.
He also reveals how Investors Trust is working with advisers and brokers in Asia to help maximise the opportunities that are presenting themselves in the region. He discusses the need to overcome client concerns about current geopolitical and global economic factors by keeping them focused on their long-term financial goals.
The changing new world order
One point that stuck with me in the Q&A with Knights is that Asia remains the region with the fastest growth rates in numbers of both HNW and UHNW individuals, and is set to surpass Europe as the world's second largest wealth hub after the US by 2026.
This reflects the changing new world order and how in a short space of time the rise of mass affluent Asian families has accelerated faster than anywhere else win the world.
Also in this special report, our excellent informative video interview with KBI Global Investors' Circular Economy Lead Portfolio Manager Martin Conroy highlights some of the key investment opportunities in the Asian region.
The behemoth of China remains a concern to the bid to protect and create a sustainable planet as the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2021, accounting for nearly 31% of the global emissions in that year, according to data specialists statista.com.
Indeed, the world's top five largest polluters that also included United States, India, Russia and Japan, highlighted in the graph in the below site, were responsible for roughly 60% of global CO₂ emissions in 2021.
climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/
A rush towards sustainable investment and creating a circular economy is welcome during these concerning times. And it is interesting to hear Conroy reveal some of the initiatives that are coming from the region that are hopefully able to halt and reverse these alarming statistics.
The recent changes in China’s attitude to non-Chinese-owned business has been a step in the right direction, although the geo-political splash back from China’s stance on Ukraine and its ongoing tensions with the US is still a key problem.
Thanks to our ezine sponsors Investors Trust and KBI Global Investors and I hope you enjoy this read and viewing, which we hope gives a welcome insight into the opportunities and interesting developments coming out of Asia in 2023 and beyond.
Pollution concerns
The Financial Park, Labuan, Malaysia
Why is the Asian market so important for Investors Trust? And what sets Investors Trust apart from competitors in the region?
Asia remains a key market for ITA both in terms of the size of the market, its continued growth potential and the strength of the distribution relationships that we have here. I believe that our people are a key differentiator from our competitors, with a highly experienced, multilingual Asia team that understands our business partners' needs and the challenges they face.
avid Knights (pictured left) talks about how the company has 'weathered the storm' during the pandemic and post-pandemic period in the region,
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In this exclusive interview, II Publisher Gary Robinson speaks to David Knights, Head of Asia Distribution at Investors Trust, pictured below
After the storm
After the storm
where movement was particularly difficult and restrictions have lasted much longer than other parts of the globe. He also reveals how Investors Trust is working with advisers and brokers in Asia to help maximise the opportunities that are presenting themselves in the region in this post pandemic period of relative calm.
The Marina Bay Sands hotel, Singapore: The Asian hospitality sector has seen a great release of pent-up demand following the ending of pandemic restrictions
The Marina Bay Sands hotel, Singapore: The Asian hospitality sector has seen a great release of pent-up demand following the ending of pandemic restrictions
How has the marketplace changed since Covid? And how are stricter restrictions impacting?
We weathered the challenges of the pandemic well thanks to the quality of our technology and our ability to handle almost every element of the client's journey paperlessly. This was a great enabler for advisors who were unable to interact face to face with clients for extended periods. With most of the Covid restrictions in the region now lifted we are optimistic for the year ahead.
What are the biggest challenges for advisers and brokers in the region for 2023?
One ongoing challenge continues to be the need to overcome client concerns about current geopolitical and global economic factors by keeping them focused on their long-term financial goals. ITA can help with this through our wide range of products, which includes unique capital protected solutions that may appeal to clients who are concerned about investment volatility.
The Financial Park, Labuan, Malaysia
Why is the Asian market so important for Investors Trust? And what sets Investors Trust apart from competitors in the region?
Asia remains a key market for ITA both in terms of the size of the market, its continued growth potential and the strength of the distribution relationships that we have here. I believe that our people are a key differentiator from our competitors, with a highly experienced, multilingual Asia team that understands our business partners' needs and the challenges they face.
What parts of Asia are you busiest in and why?
Our markets in East Asia remain key to us despite the fact
Where are the opportunities and sweet spots for advisers in the region and how can Investors Trust help with those?
One opportunity that we can already see is that the ending of pandemic restrictions has released a lot of pent-up demand in sectors such as aviation and hospitality, which are traditionally big employers of internationally mobile clients with good earnings potential. To serve this client segment well it is important to be able to offer portable products along with the ability to continue servicing clients remotely even after they move to other countries or regions.
ITA's leading edge technology, advanced online access which is available in multiple languages for both clients and advisers, and continued investment in these areas leave us well placed to support advisers in this space.
What can you tell us about the opening up of Hong Kong with China and its impact on the dynamics of the rest of the region and beyond?
The rapid re-opening of Hong Kong and China has presented some short-term challenges and concerns, particularly around the impact of high Covid case numbers in the Mainland but will inevitably provide a boost to the economic prospects for the entire Asia region as these challenges recede and a more normal business environment resumes.
Asia remains the region with the fastest growth rates in numbers of both HNW and UHNW individuals and is set to surpass Europe as the world's second largest wealth hub after the US by 2026.
that pandemic restrictions probably had the greatest impact there and lasted longest. However I am also very pleased with the growth in both business and new distribution that we have been seeing in South East Asia recently, including Malaysia, where we are licensed through Labuan.
How has the marketplace changed since Covid? And how are stricter restrictions impacting?
We weathered the challenges of the pandemic well thanks to the quality of our technology and our ability to handle almost every element of the client's journey paperlessly. This was a great enabler for advisors who were unable to interact face to face with clients for extended periods. With most of the Covid restrictions in the region now lifted we are optimistic for the year ahead.
What are the biggest challenges for advisers and brokers in the region for 2023?
One ongoing challenge continues to be the need to overcome client concerns about current geopolitical and global economic factors by keeping them focused on their long-term financial goals. ITA can help with this through our wide range of products, which includes unique capital protected solutions that may appeal to clients who are concerned about investment volatility.
Where are the opportunities and sweet spots for advisers in the region and how can Investors Trust help with those?
One opportunity that we can already see is that the ending of pandemic restrictions has released a lot of pent-up demand in sectors such as aviation and hospitality, which are traditionally big employers of internationally mobile clients with good earnings potential. To serve this client segment well it is important to be able to offer portable products along with the ability to continue servicing clients remotely even after they move to other countries or regions.
ITA's leading edge technology, advanced online access which is available in multiple languages for both clients and advisers, and continued investment in these areas leave us well placed to support advisers in this space.
What can you tell us about the opening up of Hong Kong with China and its impact on the dynamics of the rest of the region and beyond?
The rapid re-opening of Hong Kong and China has presented some short-term challenges and concerns, particularly around the impact of high Covid case numbers in the Mainland but will inevitably provide a boost to the economic prospects for the entire Asia region as these challenges recede and a more normal business environment resumes.
Asia remains the region with the fastest growth rates in numbers of both HNW and UHNW individuals and is set to surpass Europe as the world's second largest wealth hub after the US by 2026.
In the below video, KBI Global Investors' Circular Economy lead portfolio manager Martin Conroy outlines Asian investment activity within the strategy and speaks to II Publisher Gary Robinson about how investing in circular economy can have a real impact globally
KBIGI's Circular Economy lead outlines Asian activity
KBIGI's Circular Economy lead outlines Asian activity
Wind turbines in Yunnan Province, China
China tops the world's top five largest polluters that also included United States, India, Russia and Japan that were responsible for roughly 60% of global CO₂ emissions in 2021. climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/
A rush towards sustainable investment and creating a circular economy is welcome during these concerning times. And it is interesting to hear Conroy reveal some of the initiatives that are coming from the region that is hopefully able to halt and reverse these alarming statistics.
Circular Economy lead at KBIGI outlines Asian activity
Conroy who as well as heading the recently launched KBI Global Investors Circular Economy Strategy, which he outlines in this video, he is also a portfolio manager on KBIGI’s natural resource strategies and KBIGI’s Water strategy. Through these roles he has gained vast experience in dealing with sustainable businesses within the region.
Recent changes in China’s attitude to non-Chinese owned business has been a step in the right direction, although the geo-political splash back from China’s stance on Ukraine and its ongoing tensions with the US is still a key problem that is a backdrop to any developments within China, but the opportunities remain there for KBIGI’s team and indeed across the vast Asian region.
The behemoth of China remains a concern to the bid to protect and create a sustainable planet as the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2021, accounting for nearly 31% of the global emissions in that year, according to data specialists statista.com.
China tops the world's top five largest polluters that also included United States, India, Russia and Japan that were responsible for roughly 60% of global CO₂ emissions in 2021. climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/
A rush towards sustainable investment and creating a circular economy is welcome during these concerning times. And it is interesting to hear Conroy reveal some of the initiatives that are coming from the region that is hopefully able to halt and reverse these alarming statistics.
Conroy who as well as heading the recently launched KBI Global Investors Circular Economy Strategy, which he outlines in this video, he is also a portfolio manager on KBIGI’s natural resource strategies and KBIGI’s Water strategy. Through these roles he has gained vast experience in dealing with sustainable businesses within the region.
Recent changes in China’s attitude to non-Chinese owned business has been a step in the right direction, although the geo-political splash back from China’s stance on Ukraine and its ongoing tensions with the US is still a key problem that is a backdrop to any developments within China, but the opportunities remain there for KBIGI’s team and indeed across the vast Asian region.
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The behemoth of China remains a concern to the bid to protect and create a sustainable planet as the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2021, accounting for nearly 31% of the global emissions in that year, according to data specialists statista.com.
China tops the world's top five largest polluters that also included United States, India, Russia and Japan that were responsible for roughly 60% of global CO₂ emissions in 2021. climatetrade.com/which-countries-are-the-worlds-biggest-carbon-polluters/
A rush towards sustainable investment and creating a circular economy is welcome during these concerning times. And it is interesting to hear Conroy reveal some of the initiatives that are coming from the region that is hopefully able to halt and reverse these alarming statistics.
he behemoth of China remains a concern to the bid to protect and create a sustainable planet as the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2021, accounting for nearly 31% of the global emissions in that year, according to data specialists statista.com.
