AWS launches Infrastructure Region in Malaysia with US.2bil investment through to 2037

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  • higher funding than the US$ 5 billion that was first announced in 2023
  • Put about US$ 12.1 bil to GDP, help 3.5k work at physical companies yearly

Seen as a significant step towards fulfilling the vision of Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030 to build a highly skilled, innovative, prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economy.

It’s making a bigger devotion to Malaysia. Amazon Web services ( AWS ) an Amazon.com, Inc.company first announced the launch of its AWS Asia Pacific ( Malaysia ) Region in March 2023 and estimated the investment to be US$ 5.82 billion ( RM25.5 billion ) through to 2037.

Today however it announced that AWS is planning to invest an estimated US$ 6.2 billion ( RM29.2 billion ) in Malaysia through 2038.

AWS launches Infrastructure Region in Malaysia with US$6.2bil investment through to 2037The new AWS Region in Malaysia, led by Prasad Kalyanaraman ( pic ), vice president of infrastructure services at AWS, enables organizations across Asia Pacific to fully exploit the potential of the world’s most extensive and reliable cloud, assisting customers in deploying advanced applications with a wide set of AWS technologies like AI and ML. With today’s release, AWS is happy to support Malaysia’s modern transformation and help promote its function as a local hub for AI”.

AWS Regions are made up of Availability Zones, which place facilities in specific and unique geographic locations. Three Availability Zones are located far enough away from each other to support customers ‘ business continuity, but close enough to offer low overhead for large availability applications that use various Availability Zones.

DNA is ensure that two of its three information centers are in Johor and Cyberjaya, both of which are in the Klang Valley.

According to AWS, starting now, engineers, startups, entrepreneurs, and organizations, as well as state, knowledge, and nonprofit businesses, will have greater choice for running their applications and serving end users from AWS information centers located in Malaysia.

It already has a number of leading level firms as its customers including Bursa Malaysia, CelcomDigi, GX Bank Bhd, PayNet, Petroliam Nasional Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd. The Department of Broadcasting Malaysia is one of the many government agencies that use it.

Amazon has adopted the same model with its AWS Partner Network ( APN), which consists of tens of thousands of independent software vendors ( ISVs ) and systems integrators ( SIs ) around the world, in the same way that enterprise tech vendors like IBM, Microsoft, HP, and Cisco use partners in overseas markets to boost sales. Now two Indonesian companies, Aerodyne and Tapway, are part of the APN.

AWS said that the construction and operation of the new AWS Region is anticipated to contribute approximately US$ 2.1 billion ( RM57.3 billion ) to Malaysia’s gross domestic product ( GDP ) and will support an average of more than 3,500 full-time equivalent jobs at external businesses annually through 2038. The company shared data from an economic impact study it commissioned.

These jobs, including construction, service maintenance, architecture, telecommunications, and others within the government’s broader economy, may be part of the AWS offer network in Malaysia.

Tengku Zafrul, Minister of Investment Trade & Industry ( MITI), stated,” The launch of an AWS infrastructure region in Malaysia increases our country’s capabilities for digital innovation.

” This step is a major step towards fulfilling the perspective of Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030 to create a highly skilled, modern, successful, equitable, and sustainable economy. We think that the transformational potential of AI, cloud computing, and digitalization are key factors in Malaysia’s effort to become an Asian hub for manufacturing and services. The AWS infrastructure Region will help ensure Malaysia stays competitive on the global stage as the largest investment made by an international technology company in Malaysia, according to Zafrul. &nbsp,

AWS Malaysia claims to have trained over 100 000 people in Malaysia in cloud skills since its direct presence in Malaysia in 2017. Through AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance and AWS Training &amp, Certification programs like AWS Academy, AWS continues to invest in educating developers, students, and the next generation of Malaysian IT leaders in cloud skills.

With the launch of the AWS Asia Pacific ( Malaysia ) Region, AWS has 108 Availability Zones across 34 geographic regions, with announced plans to launch 18 more Availability Zones and six more AWS Regions in Mexico, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.

Each Availability Zone has independent power, cooling, and physical security, and is connected through redundant, ultra-low-latency networks. Customers who want to have high availability on Amazon can design their applications to run in several Availability Zones to achieve even greater fault tolerance.

AWS offers the broadest and deepest portfolio of services, including analytics, compute, database, IoT, generative AI, ML, mobile services, storage, and other cloud technologies. Customers from startups and businesses to public sector organizations and nonprofits will be able to use cutting-edge technologies from the world’s leading cloud provider to spur innovation, satisfy data residency requirements, achieve lower latency, and satisfy the growing demand for cloud services in Malaysia and throughout Asia Pacific.

The new crop of AI-built data centers ‘ fervent appetite for power has also increased the demand for power in Malaysia. With the launch of the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme ( CRESS) in September, the Malaysian government is allowing third parties to access the country’s electricity grid in response to the high demand. The emphasis is on the supply of green electricity.

Once introduced, buyers can negotiate directly with any renewable energy power plant for green supply, said the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation.

Since 2020, Amazon has become the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world.

At the same time, it is working on ways to increase the energy efficiency of its data centers —optimizing data center design, investing in purpose-built chips, and innovating with new cooling technologies. According to a new report from Accenture, which was commissioned by AWS, AWS’s infrastructure is up to 4.1 times more efficient than on-premises, and when workloads are optimized on AWS, the associated carbon footprint can be reduced by up to 99 %.

Additionally, AWS is committed to being water positive by 2030, returning more water to communities than it uses in its direct operations.

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City hails food bank scheme for homeless

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PUBLISHED: 17 Aug 2024 at 06: 01

Pornphrom: Poor, needy get help
Pornphrom: Poor, poor find help

According to City Hall, its food banks program has transformed 315 tons of leftover food that would have otherwise been thrown away as waste into over 1.3 million dishes for the state’s underprivileged and vulnerable inhabitants.

Since BKK Food Bank launched on Aug 8, individuals and businesses across the town have donated 315, 741.42 kg of profit foods, which have been redistributed to 67, 449 citizens in want, said Pornphrom Vikitsreth, director to Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt on conservation.

” The project has also helped cut the state’s carbon footprint by 789, 825.79 kgCO2e]kilogrammes of CO² equivalent ]”, said Mr Pornphrom.

BKK Food Bank, which is one of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s ( BMA ) programmes designed to ensure food security, is meant to improve access to food among low-income and vulnerable groups, said Mr Pornphrom.

” Left unused, profit meal would have to be discarded as spend, which has a negative effect on both the environment and the economy”, he said.

” With a good management system, surpluses could be redistributed to people who ca n’t afford food for whatever reason,” according to the article.

From Tuesday through Thursday, donors may drop off income foods at the BKK Food Bank drop-off location in their neighborhood. He explained that the food may be stored at the city office for after supply.

Those who are interested in giving are encouraged to get in touch with their neighborhood area company for more details.

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CNA Explains: Why companies issue sustainability reports, and how to make sense of them

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To be sure, for fact-checking might be hard for the common man on the street, but one method is to look out for the inspector’s comments, said Assoc Prof Law.

Readers may also “be cautious” and determine if there’s a bias towards portraying a glowing statement card.

A great sustainability report should not only address the company’s achievements. If you see that, then that might not be a pretty healthy report”, Assoc Prof Law said.

He cited European food company Nestle, which discussed potential child labor in its most recent sustainability report.

For Singapore-listed companies, climate-related statements and change ideas remain lacking, according to at least one review.

Only 39 % of the 535 companies listed on the SGX’s FY2022 sustainability reports were taken into account in their overall risk management, according to the analysis.

Less than a quarter of respondents assessed the effectiveness of their methods in light of various climate scenarios.

And only 12 per share of corporations produced “reasonably extensive” climate change programs, noted the research done by SGX Regulation and NUS ‘ Centre for Governance and Sustainability.

The publication of Scope 3 pollution is another space that needs to be filled, according to authorities.

This is mainly due to businesses being more knowledgeable about measuring Scope 1 and 2 pollutants. The issue is made even more difficult by problems in gathering pertinent information from providers across the benefit chain, they added.

More can be done, according to Assoc Prof Law, given that Scope 3 pollution account for more than 70 % of the carbon footprint for the majority of businesses.

In the end, impact is crucial when creating a strong conservation report.

NUS ‘ Prof Loh noted that there has been” a lot of inflation in information” and sustainability information “keep getting longer and longer” in recent years.

” We need to improve… There’s a needed to go back to the fundamentals: An general tale, how does it fit with your company, climate data and how you’re handling the whole value chain. That’s all we need”.

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Why is Princeton Digital Group’s flagship AI data centre in Johor a boost for Malaysia?

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  • 150MW JH1 posts Malaysia as a local hotspot for AI-ready information centres
  • combines native talent with tech innovation to promote the nation’s modern growth

Why is Princeton Digital Group's flagship AI data centre in Johor a boost for Malaysia?

The recent unveiling of the first phase of Princeton Digital Group’s ( PDG) JH1 data center campus in Johor, the state with the southernmost state in Malaysia, marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital infrastructure landscape. With the aid of this growth, the nation becomes a strong competitor in the country’s rapidly expanding AI and cloud computing industries. However, the swift execution of this 52MW job, part of a larger 150MW complex, demonstrates PDG’s execution capabilities and Malaysia’s willingness to embrace and promote cutting-edge professional investments.

Located in Sedenak Tech Park (STeP ), PDG’s JH1 college is dubbed as one of Southeast Asia’s largest data center services. It serves as PDG’s flagship AI-ready center in Malaysia and caters to international hyperscalers and businesses with demanding mathematical requirements. This service is piece of PDG’s broader Asian collection, which spans 21 data centres across 15 cities in 6 countries, positioning the business as a critical infrastructure provider in the region’s fast growing modern economies. &nbsp,

In a media briefing held at the campus last week, Asher Ling&nbsp,, chief technology officer and managing director Of PDG Singapore ( pic ) told reporters that the Johor campus benefits from excellent connectivity, access to multipleWhy is Princeton Digital Group's flagship AI data centre in Johor a boost for Malaysia?fabric roads, and proximity to key local data systems. ” Johor offers a unique blend of communication, system, and ability, making it an ideal place for our latest data center campus”, he impressed.

Ping highlighted that while standard factors like electricity, land, and space remain important, two new considerations have emerged as important: access to alternative energy and scalability. Ling praised Malaysia’s forward-looking National Energy Transition ( NET ) plan, noting its alignment with regional sustainability goals.

The NETR sets ambitious goals for Malaysia, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan outlines a gradual increase in renewable energy shares, targeting 31 % by 2025, 40 % by 2035, and an impressive 70 % by 2050.

The service, completed within 12 months of starting building in 2023, is also part of PDG’s modern SG ® approach which aims to create a seamlessly integrated information centre habitat spanning Singapore, Batam, and Johor. This approach gives large enterprises and hyperscalers unprecedented flexibility when deploying their infrastructure.

Ling also emphasized the importance of scale, pointing out that to meet the growing demand for AI and digital services, modern data centers require significantly larger parcels of land. ” The JH1 facility is designed to meet the increasing demands for high-performance computing and data storage, driven by the rapid growth of AI and digital services”, Ling added, underlying PDG’s commitment to future-proofing their infrastructure.

For context, STeP is located in Johor’s Kulai district, just 70 kilometres north of Singapore. It provides low-latency connectivity to key markets for park-based data centers. This prime positioning, abundant land, and cheaper power have attracted major players like Nvidia, AirTrunk, GDS International, and YTL Power alongside PDG. Southern Johor is emerging as a regional data center hub, which places Malaysia at the forefront of the AI revolution and draws in international tech investments.

What sets JH1 apart?

The JH1 campus features cutting-edge cooling technologies that strike a balance between performance and sustainability because it was designed to handle the intense workloads of AI. Ling emphasised the facility’s cutting-edge capabilities, noting,” We’re pushing the boundaries of air-cooled solutions, with our server racks capable of handling up to 40 kilowatts of power consumption and heat dissipation per rack. This is far beyond the typical 5 to 10 kilowatts per rack that many data centers use.

Advanced air cooling systems are used by JH1’s high-density computing environment to effectively manage the significant power requirements of AI processing while minimizing the impact on the environment. In May, before launching the first 52MW phase of JH1, PDG secured a RM1.28 billion green loan from Maybank, Standard Chartered Bank, and UOB Malaysia. This loan, PDG’s first aligned with its green finance framework, marks a significant step towards reducing resource consumption and emissions in regional AI infrastructure. In designing and running data centers for AI and high-performance computing, PDG’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated.

When asked how PDG had integrated sustainability into the company’s core design, Ling explained that they have installed solar panels on the roofs and will continue to do so for the upcoming phases, utilizing Malaysia’s abundant sunlight to generate renewable energy on-site. This demonstrates PDG’s commitment to lowering its operations ‘ carbon footprint and aligns with the nation’s National Energy Transition Roadmap.

Furthermore, the facility incorporates energy-efficient chillers and other state-of-the-art cooling technologies. Even though they come with a higher upfront cost, we have chosen the most effective chillers available. The long-term benefits of energy savings and reduced environmental impact make it worthwhile”, Ling noted.

Another feature of the JH1’s design is how it incorporates flexibility for upcoming upgrades. As demand for AI computing grows,” We’ve developed the flexibility to accommodate next-generation liquid cooling solutions,” Ling said. Strategically speaking, a forward-thinking approach ensures that JH1 can adapt to emerging technologies, making it a long-term asset for Malaysia’s digital economy.

The current economic impact

The economic effects of PDG’s investment go far beyond the facility itself. As Ling revealed, PDG has employed about 90 staff. ” And we’re going to grow between 300 and 400 in the very, very near future”, he said, adding that this job creation, particularly in high-skilled tech roles, is a significant boost to Malaysia’s workforce development in the digital sector.

Moreover, PDG’s commitment to nurturing local talent is evident in its hiring practices and training initiatives. Ling proudly shared,” When we first started, we had no Malaysian staff. Today, on our PDG Malaysia team, I am proud to share that 70 % of our team are Malaysians”.

Ling claims that the focus on local talent extends to all the essential areas for data center operations. Ling elaborated on the diverse skill sets required:” We need mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, IT engineers, network engineers, and project managers who know how to do a build. And then you have a distinct team that is adept at running things.”

PDG’s talent development approach is multifaceted, combining immediate hiring strategies with long-term talent pipeline development. Specifically, PDG has been innovative in identifying and attracting talent from adjacent industries. PDG has established partnerships with local educational institutions in order to recognize the need to develop the next generation of data center professionals.

With UTM in Johor, we’ve started a graduate engineering training program, which is similar to an apprenticeship model in that it involves working in a live data center with top mentors who can advise and instruct you, and perhaps help with the advancement of a career,” Ling said.

Overall, the launch of PDG’s JH1 campus represents more than just a new data centre in Malaysia. It signifies a pivotal moment in the country’s digital transformation journey. By combining cutting-edge AI capabilities, sustainable design, and a strong focus on local talent development, projects like JH1 are laying the groundwork for Malaysia to become a key player in the global digital economy.

Southern Johor, Malaysia’s emerging data center hub, could have a significant impact on shaping the region’s technological landscape as the demand for AI and cloud computing grows. In order to create a robust ecosystem that can support long-term growth and innovation in the tech sector, such projects will likely need to continue to collaborate with government-supported educational institutions, private sector investments, and other sources of funding.

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Temasek has S billion in sustainability investments. Should you put your money in such stocks too?

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According to Ms. Tan of OCBC, businesses are more tenacious if they are run properly, prepared for obstacles ahead, and are considering potential risks and opportunities.

As more states develop laws, money is likely to move to companies with robust statements on sustainability, she added.

Investing effectively is expected for businesses, companies and institutions, said&nbsp, Mr Stephen Beng, mind of ESG at Phillip Capital Management.

” But most importantly, it’s ) what our world needs if we want to continue eking out the many advantages of the habitat services our natural earth provides.”

HOW TO GET INTO SUSTAINABLE Opportunities

Mr. Ling of DBS advised consumers who want to create a lasting investment portfolio to conduct their own research and choose the issues that are most important to them.

The company’s carbon footprint, the company’s use of green or sustainable energy sources, and the fair pay of its employees are some questions to ask.

According to Mr. Ling, various factors, such as board member visits and minority shareholder privileges, may also be pertinent.

According to him,” It is important to know that even the most socially responsible people are not possible to tick all the right boxes,” adding that there may also be instances of false reporting.

Ms. Koh of Standard Chartered outlined three typical methods that financial traders use. The first is exclusions, where consumers avoid questionable industries like coal and wagering to fit their values.

The second is ESG connectivity, which acknowledges that non-financial risks and opportunities may be financially content to an expense.

The last one is focusing on conservation elements such as climate change mitigation, water and energy move.

Consumers do have the ability to build more resilient portfolios with ESG integration because they can take into account a wider range of risks and with lasting themes, she said.

OCBC’s Ms Tan pointed to exchange-traded resources that have been screened for ESG factors as a practical way to invest effectively.

The lender has a collection of impact investing and electric vehicles. The past has a one-year annualised profit of 23.08 per share, while the latter reported 14.02 per cent for the same sign.

These do not necessarily reflect the full range of market return expectations for sustainable investments, but they do serve as an example of how sustainable investing does n’t always translate to lower returns, according to Ms Tan.

MISALIGNMENT, GREENWASHING

Retail investors should be aware of misleading and changing global conservation standards, Ms. Tan continued.

According to her,” Cash that were previously regarded as sustainable may no longer qualify,” making it challenging for traders to identify sustainable possibilities. Local instructions and global regulations can give investments credibility and quality.

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Why global uncertainty won’t undermine transition goals | FinanceAsia

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When FinanceAsia editorial board member, Sunil Veetil, took on his Singapore-based leadership role as head of Commercial Banking Sustainability for Apac at HSBC back in summer 2022, Asia was in the throes of pandemic uncertainty. Market to market, the approach of each governing authority proved to be heavily nuanced: Singapore had not long lifted restrictions to social gatherings and would soon abandon the mask mandate; while Hong Kong’s decision makers would deliberate for a further seven months before considering any such easing.

Yet, with hindsight being 20/20 (some may recoil at reference to the fateful numerical sequence), there was a sense of steadiness – albeit slow – in the unravelling of pandemic protocol which sits in stark contrast to today’s atmosphere of fast-paced-but-frequently-wavering global political and socioeconomic uncertainty. With over half of the world going to the polls this year – and a lot riding on upcoming election outcomes including France’s hung parliament and the final months of campaigning in the US; geopolitical complexities and tensions are pervading all market developments, not least the macroeconomic and inflationary outlook.

Reassuringly, however, Veetil is resolute in his resolve that global climate aspirations will forge ahead in spite of current conditions. “When you talk climate, you have to look long term,” he told FA. “Whilst there are short-term disruptions and changes – some of which have been positive; for example, the supply chain dispersion that has been taking place across the Asian region – it’s important to view climate from a longer perspective.”

He pointed to the outcomes of last November’s COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, which served as a global stocktake of progress achieved by key economies towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, at the halfway point to their ultimate delivery by 2030. While the event publicly affirmed failure in capacity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century; for the first time, it achieved consensus among all 196 heads of state and government officials to sanction the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, with efforts to eradicate their use by 2050. The conference laid the ground for a “swift, just and equitable transition, underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance”, a strategy which complements HSBC’s own ambitions to align its financing portfolio to net zero by 2050, as announced by the bank in 2020.

Climate management, Veetil explained, involves tackling a “perfect triangle” of challenges: politics, climate and the overall socio-economic picture. “The socio-economic impact of climate upon people is becoming all the more evident as we proceed… and to bring this all together, is the flow of capital.” He noted that while a lot of climate policy frameworks and trendsetting comes from Europe, the impact – “where the rubber hits the road” – is in Asia “and this is where the complexity is.”

Expanding on his comments for FA’s analysis of Asia’s debt capital market (DCM) activity, in which sustainable transactions were highlighted as playing an increasingly significant role within regional DCM dealmaking, Veetil said that typically, it continues to be the larger regional entities who lead the way in terms of raising significant capital to support sustainability aims. “The large tickets will always be driven by the sovereigns; and then it’s usually state-owned-enterprises (SOEs) or those large-cap private operators active in oil and gas or power and utilities, who are signing the big-ticket transactions.”

This seems to have been the case in 2024 so far, with Asia’s main players pioneering innovative climate transactions. In February, Japan followed up on its 2021 introduction of a transition finance framework by auctioning the world’s first sovereign climate transition bonds as a financing tool to support market growth alongside industry decarbonisation; while during the same month, HSBC participated in the first global multi-currency digital green bond offering, issued in Hong Kong.

“However, we are seeing green loans and sustainability-linked loans (SLLs) pick up at the mid-level and below this, in response to sustainable supply chain requirements. Of course, Asia is a supplier to the world.”

Veetil noted how European and North American buyers have become accustomed to outsourcing their emissions to Asia and that this had contributed some positive social and economic repercussions across the region, including an overall rise in income levels. With increasing pressure to report on and regulate sustainability, he explained that Asia-based manufacturers are not only on top of scope 3 metrics, but are pushing for capital expenditure (capex) to contribute to longer-term sustainability: to counteract those emissions that extend beyond the products themselves such as packaging, as well as manufacturing machinery. 

“Take a textile manufacturer that supplies to one of the big fashion brands. It’s not just that they want a sustainable supply chain and a robust working capital requirement; they’re also looking at how to install a wastewater treatment plant or rooftop solar. They are actively seeking capex investment plus working capital that is sustainable.”

Additionally, he highlighted the emergence of a circular economy to facilitate long-term sustainability, as being a growing trend: “Look at the battery ecosystem for example, a huge industry is developing around the recycling of batteries – additionally the recycling of solar panels, turbines and so forth is being considered. The recycling industry is becoming larger as ultimately, unless there is a circular economy around it, resources will be wasted. New action is being taken to develop a fully circular product lifecycle.”

The role of tech

Veetil emphasised various strides made across the field of technology, as being key to the future direction of the sustainability market. He commended Japan’s move to funnel over 55% of the proceeds from its recent climate transition issuance into research and development (R&D). “The future impact of investment going into research is set to be significant,” he said, noting the market’s action to invest in and develop domestic hydrogen production.

“Hydrogen has real potential to drive transition across hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, construction and aviation. But currently the market is ‘grey’ as it requires coal power to extract it from H2O.” He added that China and India are also investing heavily in the development of hydrogen. “It’s a space to watch.”

Climate-related research and technology is one of the areas which HSBC’s New Economy initiative aims to support. Since June last year, the bank has launched two fundraising strategies in Asia to invest in early-stage high-growth and tech-focussed businesses, to promote regional innovation. The first strategy, a $3 billion New Economy Fund (NEF) targets opportunities in Hong Kong and the surrounding Greater Bay Area (GBA), while a more recently launched $200 million vehicle targets investment across Singapore and Southeast Asia. Last month, the latter signed its first dedicated social loan to support Vietnamese venture-backed biotech start-up, Gene Solutions, which aims to enhance the accessibility and affordability of essential healthcare services across Southeast Asia. Another recent contribution included a $30 million green and social loan to Indonesia’s acquaculture and intelligence start-up, eFishery, which works to empower smallholder fish and shrimp farmers through tech, by increasing feed efficiency and reducing waste.

Veetil agreed that there is a strong socio-economic angle to sustainability developments in Southeast Asia, offering the example of electronic vehicle (EV) two-wheelers: “In certain areas in Southeast Asia (such as Vietnam and Indonesia) – as well as India, the majority of the population can’t afford to buy cars. We are going to see EV two-wheelers becoming more prevalent, popular and impactful… In fact, this is already happening and will continue to do so in the short- to medium-term.”

He added that the technologies emerging around carbon capture also offer real potential, but they “haven’t yet reached a sweet spot for mass adoption.”

Regulatory developments

But perhaps the most influential factor set to shape the sustainability landscape to come, is regulatory development and with it, clarity around how to deliver and enact a shared vision.

“What I am monitoring most closely on the regulatory side of things, is progress around the development of a country taxonomy,” Veetil disclosed.

“Reporting requirements are evolving quickly. Markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore have been very much at the forefront of this, but huge strides are also being made in geographies such as China and India, with new reporting requirements being introduced for listed companies.”

Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Authority (Acra) together with Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) have mandated that listed companies start disclosing their climate impact in a phased manner, from financial year 2025.

“Over the next three years, most companies based in Singapore will report their climate data, which will certainly have an impact on the corporate mindset operating in the region,” Veetil said.

“Similarly, regulation being introduced elsewhere, such as in Europe, is taking effect globally. Take for example the new European deforestation regulation that has been published; as well as the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which will soon take effect.”

“This is where we need a unified body to monitor and manage the direction of shared sustainability efforts. Currently this is something that is missing.”

Veetil suggested that various international entities are exploring options; and he proposed that efficacy could be found through a consortium of international central banks; or an governmental body such as the United Nations (UN) forming a platform involving corporates and financial institutions.

“We live in a very seamless economy, regulations in one country will definitely have an impact on the other.”

 


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Sustainable transformation: making transition finance stick | FinanceAsia

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The Asia Pacific region is currently facing a significant gap in the race to fund decarbonisation – estimated at $US1.1 trillion by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

However, this is not the only problem for a region whose coal-fired economies represent around half of global emissions, according to the International Energy Agency.

China alone accounts for 35% of global CO2 emissions, the agency says.

Speakers at the Sustainable Finance Asia Forum 2024 said that regulators will need to rebalance sustainable investment priorities – placing more emphasis on adaptation rather than mitigation – if the region’s most heavily polluting emerging economies are to meet their carbon zero targets.

Debanik Basu, the head of responsible investment and stewardship APAC at APG Asset Management, told a panel on harnessing transition finance for sustainable transformation that investment in mitigation (reducing greenhouse emissions at source) now represented the majority of transition funding.

He said the often more complicated task of climate adaptation – the need to change systems, behaviours and whole economies – was receiving scant attention.

“Currently the region is getting around $300 billion in transition finance so there’s a massive gap that needs to be addressed,” he told the conference. “Even within the small portion of finance that we are getting, more than 80 per cent of the funds are moving towards mitigation.

“Consensus estimates suggest that ideally it should be 50/50 between mitigation and adaptation.”

He said the other critical problem was that aspects of climate finance were not well understood and appreciated by the market overall, in particular within the agriculture and forestry segment.

“When you look at the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contribution) put out by a lot of countries, there are specific targets around climate change, but there aren’t explicit targets around forestry and agriculture,” he said.

“And even when there are targets, there is no clear roadmap. What all this means is that the institutional capacity is lacking. There are gaps in infrastructure and there are gaps in knowledge.

“As an investor, conversations with companies around biodiversity are at a very nascent stage.”

A question of taxonomies

Kristina Anguelova, senior advisor and consultant on green finance strategy APAC at the World Wildlife Fund, told the conference that regulation was moving in the right direction, guided by hubs such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

She added that the unofficial rivalry between Hong Kong and Singapore in terms of developing regulatory taxonomies was having a positive effect on the transition finance landscape in the region.

“I think the competition between Singapore and Hong Kong in this case is a good thing because it’s advancing regulation in the region quite a bit,” she said. “The Singapore Asia Taxonomy lays out transition taxonomy criteria across eight sectors.”

While the regulation is tailored to Singapore, she said she believed it would lay foundations for others to follow.

“It’s so important as a regulatory piece because it can serve as an incentive for investors to start to scale transition finance comfortably and confidently without the loopholes and the risks of potentially being accused of greenwashing,” she said.

In terms of biodiversity, she highlighted the nascent stage of biodiversity finance compared to climate finance, discussing the need for capacity building, regulatory clarity, and financial instruments to support nature-based solutions.

A case in point, she said, is the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) which is developing standards aimed at developing a high-quality, comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosures focussed on the needs of investors and the financial markets.

“On biodiversity, I think we’re moving a bit slowly, but we’re getting there. Obviously coming from a science-based NGO, efforts can never be fast enough,” she said. “But the good news is that the ISSB will also be integrating the TNFD or the Task Force for Nature-related Financial Disclosures soon.

“Those jurisdictions that have adopted or committed to the ISSB will also be adopting those nature regulations.”

The challenge as always, she added, was that regulators had to strike a balance between mitigating financial risk and overregulating such that it slowed economic development.

Blended solutions

Building capacity, both speakers argued, would be critical to transition finance solutions to climate change and that new instruments, particularly in blended finance, were likely to be leading the charge.

“We are seeing beyond transition bonds to different types of instruments that are designed to go into blended finance structures such as transition credits which are based on the assumption that we can get carbon savings out of early retirement of coal-fired power plants,” Anguelova said.

One avenue that was currently being explored in a number of jurisdictions was concessionary capital: i.e. loans, grants, or equity investments provided on more favourable terms than those available in the market.

These terms could include lower interest rates, longer repayment periods, grace periods, or partial guarantees.

Of these instruments, Basu said, guarantees were evolving as one of the methods currently being pursued in several markets.

“What we are also seeing is that, apart from concessionary capital, a lot of public institutions are more comfortable with providing guarantees instead of direct capital because that then keeps the overall cost of capital down,” Basu said.

“It might be at a very nascent stage – and it is difficult to say if this is going to be the future – but it is developing,” he said.


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Singapore a ‘very attractive place’ to develop new climate technology: Bill Gates

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In: South-East Asia

Relationship WITH TEMASEK, ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE

By signing a memorandum of understanding ( MOU) to identify and support budding climate technology in Southeast Asia in April, the company made an announcement to collaborate with government agency Enterprise Singapore and state investment firm Temasek.

A joint money responsibility over the next three years is included in the MOU, which was announced at Ecosperity Week 2024.

The Breakthrough Energy Colleagues program will establish a hub in Singapore, its first provincial hub outside of the United States, to accomplish this.

Through the program, Singapore does co-fund and support deep-tech climate start-ups that deal with solar power and carbon footprint. This aims to assist the place in achieving its net-zero goal by 2050.

The program’s first grain money will be US$ 500,000. They may also get a worldwide network of business companions, mentors, experts, and investors.

” Breakthrough Energy looks at a full spectrum of game-changing solutions to address global warming,” said Lee Chuan Teck, president of Enterprise Singapore.

But you’ll be looking at a variety of technologies, including new non-carbon materials like gas and gas carriers, as well as novel ways to extract carbon from the atmosphere.

Calling the engagement a” earn- get proposition”, Mr Lee added that Enterprise Singapore hopes to take on more partners and address different global challenges like food protection, waste treatment, and healthcare.

Vice-president Ashley Grosh of Breakthrough Energy Fellows praised the “unprecedented professional skills” at Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore.

We are hoping to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in all those experts in the area because we are aware of how much development and research is happening there, she said.

Singapore’s area also allows Breakthrough Energy to employ industry and business partners, added Ms Grosh.

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Malaysian startup HOMA2u raises US.5mil in pre-series A from Asia Fund X

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  • seeks to collaborate with local consultants to analyze the carbon footprint of the supply chain.
  • Says it&nbsp, has &nbsp, repurposed US$ 4.2mil&nbsp, in excess inventories to 8, 000 houses

The HOMA2u team together with ecosystem partners

HOMA2u has raised US$ 1.5 million ( RM7 million ) in its Pre- Series A round. This money will be crucial to the company’s graphite decrease tracking initiatives and its growth beyond its home market, according to a statement from the market for restoration and interior design materials.

Committed to conservation as a primary business drivers, HOMA2u is reinforcing its economic commitment to achieve significant, tangible results. The company will work with regional qualified economic consultants to assess the carbon footprint caused by recycling overstock materials throughout the supply chain. &nbsp,

Importantly, each sale of excess tiles saves about 16.42 pounds of CO2 per m², preventing removal and reducing the need for fresh tile production. According to the company, its coal decline is properly calculated using market standards and best practices. Also, it maintains a thorough and truthful accounting of its carbon footprint, establishes new industry standards, and grants natural certificates to the businesses it collaborates with.

HOMA2u claims that to date, it has repurposed over US$ 4.2 million ( RM20 million ) worth of overstock inventories to more than 8, 000 homes. It set out a goal to keep 7.5 million kg of carbon by the end of the year at the start of 2024.

Pennie Lim, i- founder and CEO of HOMA2u, said,” As HOMA2u commemorates its seven- month journey, it stands at the ledge of a fresh time, driven by innovation and sustainability. Our goal as a business is to reinvent the built environment’s business environment, but we are also aware of the positive influence we bring to the table. She continued,” The company is committed to expanding its offerings into high-growth regions like Taiwan and Japan, where attitudes toward ESG design are remarkably similar.”

She further stated that the company is committed to expanding its offerings beyond Malaysia and Singapore, particularly into high-growth markets like Taiwan and Japan, where attitudes toward Sustainable development are remarkably related.

Through its core online-to-offline marketplace offering of excess and financial renovation and building materials, as well as modern initiatives like its Yellowish Boxes, HOMA2u continues to advance with its local expansion plans. It has begun providing services to the Singapore market from its Johor Bahru department and plans to launch a physical presence there with the launch of its network of jobs and collaborations with well-known gamers in the built environment sector.

Quintessential to its growth strategy has been the create- up of the Pro habitat. With over 1000 inside designers, architects, suppliers, contractors, corporates and several other business players, Pro serves as the program for the community to mingle and profit from HOMA2u’s customized perks and value- adding services centred around its own marketplace offerings.

James Yeoh, co-founder and chief strategy officer of HOMA2u, emphasized the significance of the fundamental technical level generating the price creation, noting that HOMA2U is working on improving its corresponding and recommendation systems based on customer needs and wants. &nbsp,Malaysian startup HOMA2u raises US$1.5mil in pre-series A from Asia Fund X

As we lead the charge of turning waste into valuable resources, he said,” This gives us information about our customers ‘ profiles, allowing us to further refine our value propositions to them.”

HOMA2u claims that it is well positioned as a first adopter to capitalize on growing consumer scrutiny of green building and renovation practices. Round economy mindsets have gained cadence naturally, ahead of regulator attention or duress, so, the company aims to consolidate the new ESG- focused landscape by agglomerating its industry networks, accumulated expertise, tech, and consumer trust.

HOMA2u has continued to advance into traditional industries known as monopolistically competitive or isolated oligopolies, according to Jeffrey Seah ( pic ), general partner at AFX. Sustainability is not merely a competitive advantage, but part of wider industry trends towards a circular economy” .&nbsp,

He added that the success of the business reflects both Lim and Yeoh’s mature business acumen and the size of the present market opportunity. &nbsp,

The company’s true competitive advantage is derived from its foundations, which are synergized with AI-powered data analytics, which are the quintessential characteristics of the digital economy revolution. We look to both co- founders to scale HOMA2u across the region, bolstered by the wider business world’s maturing awareness of ESG”, Seah said.

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Reducing carbon footprint in Malaysia: The potential of green-tech startups

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  • Essential for M’sia to identify efficient- technology startups dedicated to sustainability&nbsp,
  • Collaboration between multiple stakeholders is essential in addressing weather issues.

Reducing carbon footprint in Malaysia: The potential of green-tech startups

Malaysia, with its huge forested area of 18.27 million acres, or 55.3 % of the total land area, is navigating the subtleties of carbon pollution. In 2021, the government’s CO2 emissions were nearly 298.5 million metric tons, mainly attributed to power production and consumption. The country has seen a constant increase in coal power over the past ten years, increasing by approximately 1.3 % annually.

Major environmental effects have been caused by Malaysia’s rising carbon emissions. The nation is becoming more prone to climate change, with more frequent wildfires and rising sea levels, which pose significant risks to its southern provinces.

Another pressing problem is forest. About 133, 000 hectares of healthy forest were lost in Malaysia in 2023, leading to the loss of biodiversity and causing significant amounts of atmospheric carbon to be released, intensifying climate change.

These environmental changes have serious economic implications, with climate change potentially shrinking Malaysia’s GDP by 20 % by 2050. This puts vital industries such as agriculture, hospitality, and fisheries at hazard, along with possible impacts on public health and work production.

But, Southeast Asia also has major opportunities to address climate change. According to a study conducted by BCG and Fairatmos,” Climate Technology in Southeast Asia: Key to Unlocking the World’s Carbon Sink” ( Climate Technology in Southeast Asia: Key to Unlocking the World’s Carbon Sink ), nature-based solutions ( NbS ) could account for roughly 30 % of the global carbon offset by 2030, despite Southeast Asia containing less than 1 % of the world’s total landmass. Important sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and fish can grow by focusing on sustainable practices while enhancing human health and work production.

To effectively harness nature- based solutions, collaboration between various stakeholders is needed, particularly in technological advancement, personal- public partnerships, and green investment. Although advances like the Internet of Things ( IoT), artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and quantum computing play a significant role in NbS implementation, more green investment and political will are required to overcome obstacles to NbS adoption.

The development of NbS is already being impacted in Indonesia with assistance for Fairatmos, a nonprofit that works on high-quality coal offset projects across Southeast Asia. &nbsp,

Fairatmos founder and CEO Natalia Rialucky said,” Indonesia hosts 15 % of the world’s ability character- based carbon falls. Fairatmos aims to make the process simpler, allowing everyone, regardless of size, to start nature-based tasks that reduce greenhouse gas emissions without paying a premium. Everyone should be able to participate in the restoration of the atmosphere by overriding obstacles like restricted technical expertise, extended certification procedures, and high costs.

Fairatmos has received assistance for its solution, Atmoswatch, from ANGIN, an first- level investment platform and development consulting consulting company in Indonesia, through its Product Market Fit Programme powered by Official Development Assistance. This program aims to develop businesses ‘ products to better match business needs by providing money, tailored coaching, and networking opportunities.

Ursula Toding, ANGIN business development senior associate, said,” We were impressed by Fairatmos ‘ alignment with government priorities, especially in carbon offset initiatives amid Indonesia’s focus on carbon regulation. Startups like Fairatmos must make the most of their business to address environmental issues, balancing impact with business viability. Through the organisation, we can become more strategic in our approach, achieving both meaningful impact and sustainable growth”.

Additionally, Fairatmos received funding from regional venture capital firm Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India ( VVSEAI ). VVSEAI’s partner, Puiyan Leung, said,” Innovators like Fairatmos play a vital role in supporting these efforts. In order to reduce the impact of the climate crisis in a creative and creative way, we sincerely hope there will be similar projects throughout Southeast Asia. In the same way that Fairatmos does, it also helps to reduce emissions as well as offer economic and social benefits to local communities and help them in their efforts to adapt to climate change.

To replicate this model in Malaysia, identifying green- tech startups dedicated to sustainability is essential. Venture capital firms, such as VVSEAI, can provide support through funding, mentorship, and networking, while the Malaysian government and stakeholders foster conducive environments for sustainable investments.

The partnership between Fairatmos and key ecosystem players serves as a successful model for green-tech startups, investment platforms, and venture capital firms. This partnership demonstrates how these organizations can work together to reduce carbon footprints and speed up Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy, significantly advancing sustainability initiatives. This collaborative model provides a framework for Malaysia that can be applied to other countries, demonstrating the viability of combating climate change through strategic alliances with businesses.

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