Spurred by the region’s rapid economic development, sovereign wealth funds in Asia have increased in both size and number over the past decade. These funds have become large and active participants in global financial markets and they frequently make high-profile foreign investments. Given their size and close links to governments, sovereign wealth fund investments often attract media attention and are scrutinized for political motivations. The perception that many Asian sovereign wealth funds are not transparent in their activities and investments has also raised concerns.
This Asia Focus provides an overview of sovereign wealth funds, evaluates the structure and activities of major funds in Asia, and compares the transparency of Asian funds relative to international best practices.