Asia and Africa Double Down on Sustainable Finance at CEO Forum in Macao

MACAO, China (Oct.23, 2025) — Development finance leaders from Asia and Africa reaffirmed their shared commitment to sustainable finance as a cornerstone for building resilience and inclusive growth, opening the ADFIAP-AADFI Joint International CEO Forum 2025 with a call to action.

In the opening remarks, Dr. Kao Thach, Chief Executive Officer of Cambodia’s Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) and Chairman of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), urged members to harness the power of finance to confront climate change, economic volatility, and widening inequality.

“This forum is more than a meeting of minds — it’s a reaffirmation of our collective resolve to shape a resilient future through sustainable finance,” Dr. Kao said. “We must reimagine the models of growth we’ve inherited and align capital with the future we want to build.”

Held in Macao under the theme “Resilient Future: Harnessing Sustainable Finance for Development in Asia and Africa,” the forum brought together members of ADFIAP and the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) to explore innovative financing models, climate-smart investments, and cross-regional partnerships.

Dr. Kao highlighted the urgency of the moment, citing United Nations data showing both regions are off track to meet most Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Asia and the Pacific alone face annual disaster-related losses of $780 billion, with projections rising to $1.4 trillion.

“The financing gap is staggering,” he said, noting that developing countries will need to mobilize nearly $6 trillion by 2030 to meet their climate commitments. “DFIs must lead the charge — not just in funding, but in shaping the financial architecture of the future.”

He praised DFIs for their growing role in mobilizing private capital through blended finance, green bonds, and risk-sharing mechanisms, and for embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards into their operations. Several members, he noted, have already tapped into global climate finance mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and pioneered models such as Just Energy Transition Partnerships.

The forum also marked the launch of ADFIAP Special Interest Groups (SIGs), a new initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among members to tackle thematic challenges and co-develop practical solutions.

“As we share knowledge and build new alliances, I am confident this forum will spark ideas, inspire action, and deepen our commitment to a sustainable, inclusive future,” Dr. Kao said before officially opening the forum.