ASIATODAY.ID, KUALA LUMPUR — Hosted as a pavilion event at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the UK Mission to ASEAN on October 26, 2025 marked the official launch of the Green Finance Portfolio of the ASEAN–UK Green Transition Fund (GTF).
The launch was officiated by Her Excellency Helen Fazey, the UK Ambassador to ASEAN, alongside Rifki Weno, Executive Director of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC).
As ASEAN accelerates efforts to mobilise green finance into the region as a cornerstone of its climate strategy, the Green Finance Pillar of the ASEAN–UK GTF offers targeted support for the region’s transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.
Under the theme “Catalysing Green Finance in ASEAN”, the portfolio launch introduced key strategic components for ASEAN, including:
Project preparation assistance and matchmaking for financing;
Voluntary carbon market ecosystem support;
Capacity-building for financial institutions on nature-related disclosures;
Development of transition finance plans; and
Implementation of the ASEAN Regional Investment Promotion Action Plan.
During the launch, Ambassador Helen Fazey reaffirmed the UK’s strong commitment to supporting ASEAN’s Roadmap for Financial and Monetary Integration (RIA-Fin), stating:
“Green investment can drive core ambitions: mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss; unlocking more climate and development finance; and mobilising the private sector to help deliver growth and jobs. Our work under the ASEAN–UK Green Transition Fund is gathering momentum. The Fund delivers targeted technical assistance, strengthens partnerships with ASEAN, and aims to unlock catalytic investment in line with the ASEAN Roadmap for Financial and Monetary Integration.”
Her Excellency Helen Fazey delivered the opening remarks at the launch event, followed by remarks from Rifki Weno, Executive Director of ASEAN-BAC, who welcomed the United Kingdom’s support for the ASEAN business community.
A series of thought leadership activities followed, featuring prominent voices from the business and financial sectors, including: Dr. Renard Siew (Group Head of Corporate Sustainability, Yinson Group); Andre Eka Susanto (Chief Technology Officer, Quantum Power Asia); Abhisek Kumar (Executive Director, KPMG Malaysia); Gilles Pascual (Partner, EY Singapore); Jonathan Wong (Chief of Innovation, Enterprise & Investment, UN ESCAP); and Karan Dhanwani (Director, PwC Singapore).
The presentation sessions spotlighted the importance of capacity-building activities to invigorate ASEAN’s efforts in mobilising foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region, while exploring innovative forms of financing, such as carbon financing through voluntary carbon markets.
Emphasising the importance of co-creation, collaboration, and connecting high-integrity climate projects with access to green finance in ASEAN, the deep-dive panel discussion explored the modalities of support under the ASEAN–UK Green Transition Fund.
The discussion, moderated by Carol Koh, Sustainable Development Advisor at the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur, underlined the urgent need to connect high-quality climate mitigation projects with financing and investment.
The dialogue also examined how ASEAN Member States’ transition finance plans can help debottleneck finance flows, and how nature-related disclosure standards by financial institutions will enhance investment in nature-based projects.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Rhiannon Harries, Deputy Trade Commissioner for Southeast Asia at the UK Department for Business and Trade. She reaffirmed the UK’s global leadership and commitment to advancing green finance and facilitating sustainable investments across ASEAN.
“UK capital is ready to finance high-integrity climate projects across ASEAN,” she stated, underscoring the UK’s continued support for ASEAN’s green transition through strategic financing partnerships, technical expertise, and capacity-building initiatives. (AT Network)
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