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President%u2019s MessageIt gives me great pleasure to present the theme for this year%u2019s annual report, %u201cNavigating Changes for a Sustainable Future%u2019%u2019. We chose this theme because the investment landscape is rapidly changing due to an increasing demand for companies and governments to adopt green and sustainable practices.The increasing importance of incorporating sustainability in investmentsToday%u2019s investment landscape is marked by the growing importance of ESG (environmental, social & governance) considerations, thus requiring investors to understand relatively new terms like %u201cESG,%u201d %u201csustainability,%u201d %u201cdecarbonisation,%u201d %u201cgreenhouse gas (GHG),%u201d %u201cnet zero targets,%u201d %u201cgreenwashing,%u201d %u201cCOP28,%u201d %u201ccarbon credit,%u201d and %u201ccarbon trading%u201d.It is important that investors understand that ESG investing is about having a holistic understanding of all material risks and opportunities that a business faces, including sustainability-related risks. ESG is therefore not a trade-off; it is robust investment analysis. There is research which indicates that companies that are able to manage their financially material ESG risks and opportunities tend to outperform others, thus enhancing shareholder value.Therefore, it is becoming increasingly necessary to consider ESG factors alongside financial metrics in order to arrive at a holistic investment profile.SIAS recognizes that sustainability concepts may be new to many investors. Education is the best safeguard against greenwashing and protecting investments and to this end, SIAS collaborated with CFA Society Singapore to offer a free 2-hour introduction webinar on ESG Investing. The webinar shared how investors can integrate ESG factors into investment decisions, not merely just to seek financial returns, but also to contribute to positive social and environmental changes.David Gerald J.Founder, President & CEO425TH ANNUAL REPORT | 2023 - 2024

