INTERNATIONAL: Joint statement of intent on cross-border offering of funds in Asia

Monday September 23 2013

The Finance Ministers of Singapore, Australia, Korea and New Zealand today signed a Statement of Intent in Bali, Indonesia, to jointly develop the Asia Region Funds Passport (ARFP) that facilitates the cross-border offering of funds in Asia.

When implemented, the ARFP will offer fund managers operating in a passport economy a direct and efficient route to distribute their funds in other passport economies. Investors in the region will also benefit from having access to a broader range of quality investment products. As an inclusive regional initiative, the ARFP will strengthen the region’s fund management capability, deepen capital markets, and provide finance for sustainable economic growth.

The Ministers also endorsed a framework document which sets out the high level principles, basic arrangements and indicative timeline that will guide the development of the ARFP. Each of the four economies will conduct a joint public consultation in 2014 on the detailed rules and arrangements needed to implement the ARFP. Following the consultation, economies who decide to participate in the passport will together work towards the launch of the ARFP in 2016.

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