H.E. Dr. KAO Thach, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Chief Executive Officer of the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) and Chairman of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), presides over and delivers the opening remarks at the online Special Interest Group 2 Roundtable Discussion on “Advancing Green and Climate Finance in Asia and the Pacific.”
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Phnom Penh: On Monday, 7 September 2026, H.E. Dr. KAO Thach, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Chief Executive Officer of the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) and Chairman of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), presided over and delivered the opening remarks at the online Special Interest Group 2 Roundtable Discussion on “Advancing Green and Climate Finance in Asia and the Pacific.” The roundtable was attended by Mr. Enrique I. Florencio, Secretary General of ADFIAP; Mr. Hemant Mandal, Director for the Asia-Pacific Region of the Green Climate Fund (GCF); Mr. Masayoshi Tatewaki, Executive Officer of the Japan Economic Research Institute (JERI); Mr. Daleno Dalo, Head of Public Financing at PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (PT SMI), Indonesia; Development Financing Institutions as Member Special Interest Group 2, as well as ADFIAP members and a number of development partners.
During this important and substantive forum, H.E. Dr. KAO Thach emphasized that climate change has become a major economic and development challenge, requiring development finance institutions to play an active role in translating climate ambitions into concrete actions. H.E. Dr. KAO Thach also highlighted that public financing alone cannot meet the scale of financing required. Therefore, the use of blended finance, credit guarantees, sustainable bonds, and technical assistance to mitigate investment risk and private capital mobilization is critical. In particular, cooperation among institutions and countries across the region is essential for sharing experiences, addressing common challenges, and collectively advancing Asia and the Pacific toward a more resilient future. The roundtable was organized to facilitate the exchange of practical experiences, discuss financial instruments, and gather inputs for the research undertaken by Special Interest Group 2, in preparation for the 49th ADFIAP Annual Meeting. The outcomes and inputs generated from the roundtable will provide an important foundation for advancing policy recommendations and strengthening regional cooperation on sustainable finance and development.
