Clifford Capital hires from SocGen in energy push; establishes asset management arm | FinanceAsia

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Sophea Seng has been appointed as the company’s managing director and head of resources, as well as its property management division. &nbsp,

Singapore-based Seng does record to Audra Low, who heads consumer protection for the Taiwanese group. Seng joins the group from Société Générale, where she ran the South &amp, South-East Asia power funding process.

She has worked in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore for over 17 times and began her career at Deloitte in Sydney.

In a press release, Low said,” We are happy to have her on table. She brings a wealth of experience in a fast transitioning and higher growth energy sector.” &nbsp, &nbsp,

In a separate announcement, Clifford Capital announced that Vidyasagar ( Vid ) Pulavarti had been named as Clifford Capital Asset Management’s (CCAM ) chief investment officer.

CCAM will be a second line of business for Clifford Capital, adding to its creation and arranging, and supply company. &nbsp,

Pulvarti, who was hired on January 6 and has over 20 years of international credit and expense management experience, joined us. He most recently served as managing director of Asia Pacific ( Apac ) Credit at Apollo Global Management, where he established the firm’s pan-Apac private credit business. His professional career includes posts at major corporations like JP Morgan, Citibank, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

” The creation of CCAM represents a major milestone in our development as an infrastructure funds platform”, said Sanjiv Misra, president of CCAM and Clifford Capital, in a speech.

Murli Maiya, Clifford Capital’s party chief professional, added:” Vid’s session, combined with our integrated approach across corporate origination, underwriting, distribution and institutional services, positions us well to level our business, positively affect our clients and assist build institutional markets in the green infrastructure space”.

As recently disclosed at COP29, Clifford Capital is in discussions with the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) regarding the management of the Energy Transition Acceleration Finance ( ETAF ) partnership.

Read a detailed FinanceAsia meeting with Maiya around. &nbsp,

For more information on FA people goes, visit this link. &nbsp,

¬ Plaza Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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China’s homemade C919 jet takes to global skies – Asia Times

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The first step in the development of China’s self-developed C919 narrow-body passenger jet, the first to compete with Boeing and Airbus for global industry, has been ordinary airlines between Shanghai and Hong Kong since the beginning of 2025. &nbsp,

Aircraft MU721, carrying 157 people, took off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 8: 21 am on January 1, marking the indigenously-assembled plane’s first international flight. In China, trip roads between Chinese places and Hong Kong are categorized as “international”.

Hong Kong becomes the ninth area on which China Eastern Airlines often operates C919 industrial planes and the first city outside the Chinese mainland with the beginning of the MU721 route.

The new company offers opportunities for users in other countries to learn more about the C919’s performance, according to Wang Yanan, the chief writer of the Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, given Hong Kong’s significant international transportation hub.

The company plans to deploy the C919 for use in commercial flights between China and Southeast Asia in 2026, according to Yang Yang, deputy general manager of the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China ( Comac )’s marketing center.

” We want to enhance the functional deployment of C919 aircraft in China,” Yang said,” to thoroughly examine any possible issues before extending to Southeast Asia.”

Comac showcased its ARJ21 and C919 at the Singapore Airshow next February. Indonesia’s TransNusa started using the ARJ21 in a Manado-Guangzhou journey last October and was apparently considering using the C919 in the future. &nbsp,

Comac said next November that its C929, a long-range 250-to-320-seat wide-body twin-jet aircraft, was still in its initial design phase. Chinese internet said the C919 aims to engage with France’s Airbus A320 and America’s Boeing 737 while the C929 may compete with the A330, A350 and 787.

The C919’s creation began in 2008 with the release of the first design in November 2015. The Civil Aviation Administration of China, the nation’s civil aviation authority, issued a flying license in September 2022 after making its first journey in May 2017.

Although praised as dessert, 40 % of the plane’s parts are imported. Its manufacturers include large American companies like Collins Aerospace, Honeywell, and Thales.

Its high-bypass turbofan engine, known as the leading edge aviation propulsion ( LEAP-1C), is made by CFM International, a 50-50 joint venture between America’s GE Aviation and France’s Safran Aircraft Engines.

It hasn’t been all obvious stars for the aircraft. A C919 plane operated by China Eastern Airlines had to reduce its voyage and land at Beijing Capital International Airport on February 1, 2023 when one of its engines failed to activate the put reverser, which is designed to decrease the aircraft. &nbsp,

In spite of this, the plane made its first corporate flight to Beijing in May 2023 from Shanghai. The Shanghai-Beijing way became a normal support in January 2024. &nbsp,

Foreign observers appear to have focused more on supply chain issues than health issues. &nbsp,

” Simply when its self-developed CJ1000A website is available for use in C919, China may no longer have to worry about the West’s systems ban”, Xiao Pang, a Henan-based blogger, says in an article.

He says the CJ1000A website has a force of 14.5 lots, exceeding that of LEAP-1C, and will be available for use in the C919 in 2025. He says, CJ2000, a more effective engine, will be used in the C929 some years later.

It’s unclear whether Comac will make a rush effort to replace the CJ1000A with the LEAP-1C because a single incident will destroy international customers ‘ faith in Chinese plane. &nbsp,

In 2016, Comac and Russia‘s United Aircraft Corporation ( UAC ) signed a memorandum of understanding for a program to develop a wide-body twin-jet airliner called CR929. &nbsp,

Previous studies stated that UAC would concentrate only on China’s markets while Comac would concentrate solely on domestic markets. &nbsp,

However, the task foundered on conflicts. According to Chinese experts, UAC requited to have a share of China’s domestic airplane areas. After the relationship ended in 2023, China renamed the CR929 as C929. &nbsp,

Individually, China had also tried to obtain aircraft engine tech from Ukraine.

Again in 2015, four Chinese firms, including Skyrizon Aircraft and Xinwei Technology, reportedly purchased a 56 % interest in Ukraine’s Motor Sich, which produced the D-18T website, a high-bypass turbofan with a force of 23 lots, for use in transport plane An-124 and An-225.

In 2016, Aerospace Industry Corporation of China ( AICC ) and Ukraine’s Antonov signed an agreement on a project to produce the An−225.

The four Chinese firms were sanctioned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February 2021 because they feared that Motor Sich’s aircraft engine systems may be transferred to China for military usage.

In November of the same year, Zelenskyy used military laws to nationalize the Zaporizhia-based Motor Sich, which is still under the protection of Russian army, after the Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022.

A number of reports that claimed China is capable of replicating the D-18T were published online in China last November. &nbsp,

An Anhui-based writer&nbsp, said that&nbsp, with the D-18T, China’s military transport plane Y-20 does have its pulling power fit with the An-124 and also increase its range to 6, 000 kilometers. A Chongqing-based blogger said China can use the D-18T technology to improve the design of the CJ1000 website. &nbsp,

China Hangtie Group Co ( CAGC), a state-owed company, said in footage circulated on social media in May 2022 that it was going to dismantle the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world’s largest and most powerful transport aircraft, which was shot down by Russian troops in April. According to reports, the plane’s six D-18T machines were in good condition. &nbsp,

Eventually, CAGC removed the video from the Internet. China’s Paper.cn said there was no proof that any Chinese company had obtained the An-225. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Yong Jian contributes to the Asia Times. He is a Chinese columnist who specializes in Chinese technologies, economy and politics. &nbsp,

Read: Taiwanese C919’s website faults in flight check

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As Trump’s shadow looms, Southeast Asian economies face ‘hard challenges’ in 2025

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Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Anwar has introduced a higher minimum wage and bumped salaries for the civil service – moves that are expected to increase private consumption and drive economic growth, said Malaysia-based economist Shankaran Nambiar.

Despite that, Nambiar pointed out that the higher minimum wage, alongside another policy to mandate retirement scheme contributions for foreign workers, are moves that will hit small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and potentially soften the economy.

Consistently described as the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, SMEs account for 48 per cent of employment and contribute 38 per cent of the country’s GDP, according to an October 2023 report by professional services firm EY.

Malaysia’s MSME sector grew 5 per cent and contributed RM613.1 billion to GDP in 2023, but remains highly vulnerable to external factors like policy decisions, technological advancements and geopolitical events.

After Anwar’s Budget 2025 speech, SMEs had warned that the higher minimum wage and mandatory Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for foreign workers would further hit their bottom line at a time when their margins were already squeezed.

“The private sector, particularly the SME sector, may not be fond of a mandatory contribution to EPF for foreign workers. The higher costs might affect some of the less vibrant and smaller companies,” Nambiar said.

“With global growth marking a slightly lower level in 2025 … and China not being able to post the kind of exuberant figures they traditionally have, Malaysia is likely to fall closer to the lower end of the 4.5 per cent (in GDP growth).”

Malaysia’s finance ministry said in its macroeconomic outlook for 2025 that the global economy is projected to grow by 3.3 per cent next year, while China is forecasted to register 4.5 per cent growth mainly due to “sluggish productivity”.

TRUMP’S THREATS

China’s fragile economy is bracing for more US trade tariffs under a second Trump administration, which has threatened tariffs in excess of 60 per cent on imports of Chinese goods.

The US has also begun imposing tariffs on solar imports from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia, aimed at curbing Chinese companies that try to diversify their supply chains to avoid harsher tariffs.

Nambiar said the use of tariffs as a foreign policy measure could act as a dampener on Malaysia’s economy.

“The old story of expecting Chinese companies to move to Malaysia to avoid tariffs will not work, unless there’s going to be significant local content,” he said.

“Malaysia will have to be clearer with regard to its policies, particularly in relation to China. The Trump administration may not tolerate ambiguity too well.”

Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, a partner at strategic advisory firm ADA Southeast Asia, said the region’s trade surplus with the US could also make Malaysia’s exports, especially semiconductor industries, vulnerable to tariff risks.

“Therefore, it is key for Malaysia to continue to diversify its trade partnerships,” he said.

Asrul Hadi said Malaysia’s government should continue to streamline its agencies and departments, ease regulatory processes and improve transparency in decision-making.

“This approach will make Malaysia more attractive to foreign investments, particularly as the federal government aims to strengthen the country’s position in the global semiconductor supply chain,” he added.

Sunway University’s Yeah, however, highlighted that Trump’s pivot to tariffs and other trade weapons to protect US industries will have mixed effects on Malaysia, given the openness of the country’s economy and good relations with both America and China.

“The trade and investment diversion during Trump’s first term and (current President Joe) Biden administration’s trade disputes with China has benefited Malaysia as evidenced by the rise in FDI and trade volume,” he said.

“It will need to navigate the adverse trade impact and supply chain disruptions should the tariff hikes materialise. This will involve compliance with demand conditions, seeking alternative markets and providing assistance to affected firms to minimise enduring damage to the Malaysian economy.”

Malaysia’s finance ministry said in its macroeconomic outlook that while its trade volume with China is significantly higher than the US, trade with Washington is “crucial” for strategic economic sectors such as technology and healthcare.

“Any policy shift towards protectionism, such as higher tariffs and new non-tariff measures in these countries, could bring repercussions to Malaysia’s external sector,” it said.

Given Trump’s tariff escalation and the ongoing wars in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, Yeah surmised that external conditions are expected to be volatile and unpredictable next year.

“To maintain growth, the government will need to be nimble and pragmatic in responding to potential large destabilising changes in the international trade and investment environment,” he said.

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Pundits warn of Trump policy risks

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Sineenat: Higher tariffs could slow Thai exports
Sineenat: Higher taxes had slow Thai exports

According to experts in international affairs, Thailand should be wary of the violent trade practices of US President-elect Donald Trump, who will sworn in for his second term on January 20.

Governments around the world are concerned about the effects that Mr. Trump’s risks to raise taxes on US imports have had on their economies.

Mr. Trump said the high import duties would help reduce the country’s enormous trade deficit, budget deficit, and promote investment in the country under the” America First” theme of his election campaign, which pledged to levy tariffs of 10 to 20 % on all imported goods and 60 % or more on Chinese goods.

According to experts, the Thai government and the business sector should carefully check US trade and economic policies because they may have an impact on the country’s economy and business environment.

They are also worried Mr Trump’s monetary policies could reduce US funding in Thailand, particularly in manufacturing, and slow down technology transfers, putting limits on access to advanced technology.

The authorities in Thailand were speaking with The Bangkok Post to get their opinions on how the country should make.

Price war harms development

Sineenat Sermcheep, chairman of the Asean Studies Center, Faculty of Economics of Chulalongkorn University, said Mr Trump’s monetary policies may prioritise business protectionism by imposing big tariffs to protect local business.

These actions may hurt US business partners, increase worldwide confusion, and have a negative impact on the US economy, reducing global progress, she said.

High import taxes from China and other nations could cause trade wars, stifle global supply chains, and stifle international business. For National consumers and companies who rely on imported products for their production methods, these taxes are likely to raise expenses.

Mr. Trump’s economic policies and higher tariffs pose negative risks for the Thai economy by slowing exports and dissuading FDI because trade and US foreign direct investment ( FDI) are key drivers of Thailand’s economic growth.

On trade, Ms Sineenat said the US is a big Thai export market, especially for items such as computers, electronics, and electronic appliances, and these exports may be hit straight by higher tariffs.

” However, the flood of Chinese products may increase competition in the Thai business. Because of the great tariffs that China may impose on its exports to the US, they may look for new industry, including Thailand. This fierce competitors may have an impact on local producers and stymie the recovery, according to Ms Sineenat.

She claimed that Thailand’s economy may be sluggish as FDI and international funding decline. International investors may hold off on their investment decisions until more positive information is available.

” Also, Mr Trump’s reshoring method might increase funding in the US while decreasing international funding elsewhere. This makes it more likely that less investment may be made in Thailand.

” So Thailand needs to prepare by adjusting its profitability, growth and encouraging more local assistance,’ ‘ she said.

She said Thailand needs to increase its local production capacity to be more competitive in the global market by leveraging systems and sustainable development by investing in cutting-edge developing technologies, digitalization, natural industries, and solar power. Additionally, she recommended strengthening its business environment to draw in a wide range of FDI.

These would be particularly crucial as the Trump administration attempts to cut back on US climate action goals.

Thailand also needs to diversify its economic partnerships by strengthening trade ties with other major nations to lessen its dependence on any single market. It should also firm up economic ties with economies including the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Middle East, Ms Sineenat said.

Finally, Thailand needs to encourage Asean to enhance intra-Asean trade to deepen regional integration, which would enhance economic resilience.

Panitan: More pressure to take regional responsibilities

Panitan: More pressure to take regional responsibilities

More regional responsibility

Panitan Wattanayagorn, a former lecturer on international affairs at the Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, says Thailand must brace for the economic impacts of a Trump-led administration, particularly regarding US-China trade tensions.

Any slowdown in China’s economy will inevitably affect Thailand, given their interconnected trade relationships, he said. Thailand may also face tougher negotiations on tariffs and trade balances, requiring strategic adaptability.

Thailand could be under more regional responsibilities under the second Trump administration, including addressing human rights issues, battling illegal fishing, and tackling human trafficking.

Such pressures might serve as leverage in trade talks, with Washington tying economic incentives to Thailand’s cooperation on these fronts, said Mr Panitan.

He thinks that the government might be able to solve some of these issues with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s influence and direct communication with US leadership.

However, Mr Panitan also cited risks related to transparency if the government relies on Mr Thaksin’s help, suggesting the former premier may benefit instead.

According to Mr. Panitan, transparency will be essential to preventing any public backlash and ensuring that any collaboration benefits Thailand as a whole.

Virot: Thailand risks losing out to neighbours

Virot: Thailand risks losing out to neighbours

Thammasat University’s international relations professor Virot Ali emphasized the importance of Thailand’s adaptation to the rapidly-changing global economy.

He said Mr Trump’s policies, if consistent with his first term, may stimulate shifts in global trade and technology. Although stabilized oil prices and lessening strategic tensions can benefit the US, these changes could increase competition in global markets.

Thailand, with its outdated industrial framework, risks losing out to more dynamic economies like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He emphasized the necessity of embracing the” Fourth Industrial Revolution” by modernizing production processes and diversifying trade markets.

He warned that if Thailand didn’t adapt, it might struggle to attract investment and keep up with its regional peers.

Trump’s policies may stymie global trade, but they also offer the chance for Thailand to adjust its economic strategies. The country could reduce potential losses by boosting domestic consumption and opening new markets.

He adds that Mr. Thaksin’s prior business dealings with Mr. Trump could be a valuable diplomatic asset because they might help ease current tensions and open the door for further cooperation.

He stated that he anticipates the administration of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to make use of these ties to aid Thailand in overcoming economic difficulties.

Anekchai: China containment could hurt Thailand

Anekchai: China containment could hurt Thailand

Myanmar and Indo-Pacific

Given its close proximity to Thailand, Mr. Panitan continued to say that one area where the US might exert more pressure is Myanmar.

Although Thailand’s involvement in the South China Sea’s issues is likely to be limited, Mr. Panitan thinks Washington will anticipate greater Thai involvement in resolving the crisis there.

He predicts that the US will continue to rely on Asean alliances to counterbalance China’s influence, particularly in the South China Sea, with nations like the Philippines and Indonesia likely to be encouraged to take more active roles.

Anekchai Rueangrattanakorn, Silpakorn University’s adjunct lecturer in Political Sciences, said Mr Trump’s second victory may stem from his clear action on how to contain China’s global influence in a bid to retain America’s supremacy.

Southeast Asia may be impacted by the containment of China because the South China Sea and the Myanmar crisis have become a geopolitical hotspot.

Regarding the Myanmar crisis, Mr. Anekchai said that even though the United States hasn’t given it any priority or its strategic importance in relation to the Middle East, Washington can’t ignore it as it did in 1990-2010.

He claimed that this is because the US has finally recognized that Myanmar has not changed or given importance to democracy and human rights protection as expected since Washington imposed sanctions on the nation in response to the uprising there on August 8, 1988.

The so-called 8888 Uprising, also known as the People Power Uprising, was a series of nationwide protests, marches and riots in Myanmar ( then known as Burma ). The key events occurred on Aug 8, 1988.

According to Mr. Anekchai, this event caused Myanmar to forge strong ties with China, which affected America’s efforts to maintain its leadership and influence in Southeast Asia.

During Joe Biden’s soon-to-end administration, Washington announced a tough policy on Myanmar, which effectively cut its access to the Tatmadaw.

Mr. Anekchai said that even though the Trump administration may not be as concerned with democracy and human rights as the Biden administration, he believed Mr. Trump would need to support the anti-Tatmadaw movement while also backing the anti-Tatmadaw movement, saying that this would be the best way to keep American influence and leadership in the area.

In order to thwart Chinese influence in the region, he said, Washington may also have the impression that it wants to form a systematic alliance that promotes democracy and human rights while co-creating security and fair economic growth.

Because Myanmar has a strategic importance for China, he said,” President Trump would open the door for Myanmar and China to foster a closer bond.”

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Increased risk of fires, transboundary haze in Mekong sub-region as dry season begins

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As the dry season approaches in the region, the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre ( ASMC) issued a” Level 1″ alert on Thursday ( Jan 2 ), warning of hotspots and haze in the region.

The center claimed in a press release that the east monsoon’s “established” will result in clean conditions covering the majority of the Mekong sub-region.

The hub and cloud situation over the sub-region may get worse in the coming months due to the season’s persistent dry spells, it added.

The provincial weather center even observed a steady rise in the sub-region’s hotspot count since mid-December. It recorded a leap in the number of areas between Dec 31 and Jan 1, from 164 areas to 335 both.

Although it found some localized smoke plumes or fog in parts of Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, it claimed that there hasn’t been any transnational smoke haze thus far.

The Mekong sub-region even includes Myanmar, Vietnam and parts of China.

At the start of 2025, ASMC added that it anticipates natural or short-lived La Nina conditions, which may cause wetter-than-average conditions in some pieces of Southeast Asia.

” However, its results on snowfall may not be pronounced over the Mekong sub-region&nbsp, and there may still be a danger of expanded hub activities and intergovernmental smoke&nbsp, cloud in the sub-region”, it said.

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IN FOCUS: Awash with billions in Big Tech money, but Southeast Asia’s cloud and AI boom faces limits

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Large TALENT GAPS

Although major tech companies have plans to educate millions of people in the area, there is general agreement about a growing online skills space.

” It is still very hard, challenging to find a really, really great software skills. The difference is always there”, Kanggrawan said.

Even as the market experienced the so-called “tech winter,” a business slump of massive work deficits and hiring freezes in the past two years, this is still the situation. &nbsp,

According to Khuong, nations like Thailand and Singapore will have an even “more serious” difficulty finding labor.

He claimed regional education reforms were required, and tech firms may be encouraged to work in this area.

Everyone must execute the catching up game in this area of training their people, according to” I see the space outside, because the technologies actually advance thus quickly.”

Benja Bencharongkul is the owner of Brainergy, a engineering software company run by a telecommunications company called Benchachinda Group, which operates its own data center and cloud services in Thailand.

He claimed that the country is currently suffering from a significant shortage of skilled workers, which is further exacerbated by the arrival of tech companies with high salaries and career opportunities. Local people are left to thrive inconveniently.

” When Google or Microsoft come in, I just see a huge demand increase with, at least in the short term, the same pool of supply ( of talent )”, he said.

” We are hunting in this same small pool, and what we have seen in the last three years is the 50 % or 20 % increase in the cost of talent with no discernible increase in skill.”

He is concerned that Thailand, which has continued to prioritise economic variety, may not be able to keep up with its mates like Vietnam, which has developed a strong tech industry.

” In the older Eastern perspective, when you ask people what they want to be, a lot might say they want to become a doctor, for instance, correct? Never in Vietnam again. They want to be in tech”, he said.

Tech leaders like Benja are concerned about countries trying to be everything at once as digitalization makes its mark on many aspects of society and organization.

” We just have 70 million people and we’re producing less and less people for the workforce”, he said, referring to Thailand’s declining population. ” But, to please every business is going to be a lot more threatening.

Institutions may have to make difficult choices both now and in the future. Trying to compete with global superpowers for AI growth may turn out to be a futile endeavor, according to Kanggrawan.

He claimed that looking for business suit or niche areas to use technology could provide more advantages to citizens.

” And if we can utilize that, perhaps in Southeast Asia, businesses or service providers can become world people, but we must be believable, “he said.

Technology and coaching programs have, nevertheless, created prospects for some people with disabilities.

Jidapa Nitiwirakun, 21, was only a child when she was diagnosed with muscular disease, a condition that has caused her to gain muscle power year on year.

As she got older, she began to consider career options. &nbsp,

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UK pushes green transition scheme

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Personal investment ‘ does assist’ with shift

PUBLISHED: 1 Jan 2025 at 06: 32

Sarah Tiffin (photo: ASEAN)
Sarah Tiffin ( photo: ASEAN )

To assist members of the Association of South East Asian Nations ( Asean ) in tackling climate change, the United Kingdom has launched a green transition investment initiative.

The UK Ambassador to Asean, Sarah Tiffin, said in an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post that the Southeast Asian region has been identified as one of the most resilient to climate change during a recent visit to Bangkok. Both Asean and the UK shared the same fears about the natural move. While this area is advancing financial growth, it has its own problems regulating the rising carbon emissions that come with rapid economic growth.

The UK and the United Kingdom Economic & Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ( Escap ) collaborated to launch the Southeast Asian Green Investment Catalyst initiative, which promotes sustainable foreign direct investment.

She stated that the UK government is currently contributing £2 million ( roughly 85 million baht ) to this initiative to aid the Asean Secretariat and member states in implementing the recently agreed Asean Regional Investment Promotion Action Plan, which was formally approved by Asean Economic Ministers in September 2024.

The Action Plan represents Asean’s first planned strategy for attracting alternative investment across worth chains, a major shift in regional cooperation in the promotion of responsible development.

The bank will also provide Asean Investment Promotion Agencies with capacity-building assistance, and it will also help the Asean Investment Forum in 2025 and 2026 to promote natural investment-ready prospects to buyers.

” We, as the UK, are the newest speech spouse, and we became Asean’s lover three years ago. We are brand-new to this area, and we would like to work really closely with the Secretariat and all Southeast member states to figure out how to work together ideal, where we can add the most value and where we can exchange policy-relevant information with each other, she continued.

The Asean Green Investment Catalyst effort aims generally to facilitate foreign direct investment in crucial alternative sectors that are essential to Asean’s changeover to low-carbon societies.

She stated,” The UK is delighted to support this cutting-edge program that will enable alternative investment in Southeast Asia.”

” We are demonstrating our support for Asean’s ambitious climate goals and our authority in climate fund.” This effort exemplifies the transformative power of UK-Asean assistance in promoting the region’s transition to zero emissions while creating lasting financial opportunities.

She questioned how the UK was assist Asean in addressing green transition through this program. She said that encouraging the private sector to generate their expense into natural transition is regarded as a good place to begin.

There is no fixed thought for a natural transition, she explained, and it could be submitted to obtain funding.

” What we want to do is to stimulate as many thoughts and ideas as possible from Asean member states and at the local level across the themes of the project, which, as I say, financing, policy-making, wildlife, cities. Then we will evaluate projects and back those that we believe you add the most value and those that we believe are the most valuable,” she continued.

” But the general purpose is to enable Asean transition to a brighter, more climate-resilient economy”, she noted.

” If we can reduce carbon emissions and foster economic growth, it will help to increase this region’s lives, livelihoods, and economy, as well as address the looming climate change problems.”

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UK pushes green transition scheme

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In: South-East Asia

Personal investment ‘ may assist’ with shift

PUBLISHED: 1 Jan 2025 at 06: 32

Sarah Tiffin (photo: ASEAN)
Sarah Tiffin ( photo: ASEAN )

To assist members of the Association of South East Asian Nations ( Asean ) in addressing climate change, the United Kingdom has launched a green transition investment initiative.

The UK Ambassador to Asean, Sarah Tiffin, stated in an exclusive interview with the Bangkok Post that Southeast Asia is one of the most resilient to climate change during a recent visit to Bangkok. Both Asean and the UK shared the same fears about the natural transition. While this area is advancing financial growth, it has its own problems regulating the rising carbon emissions that come with rapid economic growth.

The UK then joined forces with the United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ( Escap ) to launch the Asean Green Investment Catalyst initiative, which aims to promote sustainable foreign direct investment throughout Southeast Asia.

She claimed that the UK government is currently funding this initiative with a £2 million ( approximately 85 million baht ) grant through the Asean-UK Green Transition Fund to aid the Asean Secretariat and its member states in implementing the recently agreed Asean Regional Investment Promotion Action Plan, which was formally approved by Asean Economic Ministers in September 2024.

The Action Plan represents Asean’s first planned strategy for attracting alternative investment across worth chains, a major shift in regional cooperation in the promotion of responsible development.

The bank will also provide Asean Investment Promotion Agencies with capacity-building assistance, and it will also help the Asean Investment Forum in 2025 and 2026 to promote alternative investment options to investors.

” We, as the UK, are the newest speech spouse, and we became Asean’s companion three years ago. We are brand-new to this area, and we want to work closely with the Secretariat and all Southeast member states to figure out how to work together finest, where policy exchanges can be most useful, and where we can add the most worth, she said.

The Asean Green Investment Catalyst effort aims generally to facilitate foreign direct investment in crucial alternative sectors that are essential to Asean’s changeover to low-carbon societies.

She stated,” The UK is delighted to support this cutting-edge program that will help activate alternative funding across Southeast Asia.”

We are demonstrating the UK’s authority in climate financing and our commitment to supporting Asean’s optimistic climate targets. This program exemplifies the transformative power of UK-Asean participation in promoting the region’s transition to zero emissions while also providing for sustainable financial opportunities.

When asked how the UK might support Asean’s natural change effort, she said that encouraging the private business to generate their investment into a natural transition is regarded as a good place to begin the Asean region’s green transition process.

She explained that there is no fixed plan for a natural transition proposal and that it could be submitted to receive funding.

” What we want to do is to stimulate as many thoughts and ideas as possible from Asean member states and at the local level across the themes of the project, which, as I say, financing, policy-making, wildlife, cities. Then, she continued, we will evaluate projects and help those that we believe is add the most value and those that we believe are most valuable.”

” But the general purpose is to enable Asean transition to a brighter, more climate-resilient economy”, she noted.

” If we can reduce carbon emissions, and if we can encourage economic growth, that’s going to increase lives and livelihoods and the regional economy as well as address the looming crises of climate alter,” said one analyst.

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