Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust (“Hektar REIT”), is happy to announce that Hektar REIT has been awarded two Gold Awards in the Equity Awards category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023. These honors were given in the categories of Outstanding ESG and Dividend Return Award and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Award.
Hektar REIT was named one of the greatest winners in the equities category at this event. These accolades demonstrate Hektar REIT’s unwavering commitment to sustaining the highest levels of excellence in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. The prestigious award event was held on November 6, 2023, at the Hilton in Kuala Lumpur, and was officiated by Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023, a major industry award, are divided into two categories: the Equity Awards and the Fund Awards. Its major goal is to acknowledge and applaud Malaysia’s ESG leaders for their outstanding accomplishment.
The Edge Malaysia works closely with Bursa Malaysia and FTSE Russell in the Equity sector. The goal is to highlight and celebrate the best-performing PLCs, with the evaluation process based on FTSE Russell’s comprehensive criteria. The Edge Malaysia is collaborating with Morningstar in the Fund category to identify and reward top-performing asset management businesses using the latter’s well-known methodology. By honoring their achievements and triumphs, these awards sought to promote ESG adoption and leadership among industry executives and professionals.
Hektar REIT qualified under the Equity Awards category, which requires a firm to be listed on Bursa Malaysia and a component of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS Index as of June 2023. Another important condition for qualifying was that the firms be evaluated by FTSE Russell between December 2022 and June 2023. The Edge established a new category, Outstanding ESG and Dividend Return, in which firms were assessed based on their performance over the previous five years.
“We are filled with gratitude and enthusiasm for securing these two prestigious Gold Awards, a significant milestone in Hektar REIT’s exceptional journey,” stated Johari Shukri Jamil, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Hektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd. It is a resounding validation of our unrelenting commitment to incorporating ESG principles into every aspect of our operations and strategic vision, supporting our commitment to long-term stakeholder value generation. At Hektar REIT, we truly believe that our unwavering commitment to strong ESG standards serves as the foundation upon which we build long-term value for our valued unitholders, loyal customers, and the communities we are blessed to serve.
The significance of these two awards cannot be emphasized; they represent a historical milestone that propels us forward in our sustainability objective. As we move forward, we are determined to not only maintain but also exceed the excellent standards that have garnered us these honors. We recognize that success comes with a great deal of responsibility, and we embrace it with zeal, passion, and devotion.
Our journey is far from over; it has only just begun. With these two gold awards as the guiding stars, we are determined to explore new horizons and demonstrate that adopting a sustainable approach is not merely an option but a definitive path towards a more promising future for everyone.”
Hektar REIT is still committed to incorporating ESG into all elements of the company, from financial management to operations and long-term planning. This commitment is a pillar of our objective to provide substantial and long-term value to our stakeholders, preparing us for a bright future.