Asia Infrastructure Forum

Bangladesh has pledged to cut 21.8% of carbon emissions by 2030 as part of global efforts to combat climate change. Businesses can benefit greatly by greening buildings through energy efficiency measures. By optimising efficiency of buildings and operations, businesses can reduce energy consumption, lower carbon footprint, comply with regulations, and establish their reputation in sustainability.

Jointly organised with Aamra Group, the event focused on the importance of decarbonisation in Bangladesh and how energy usage can be optimised in the built environment. Speakers engaged in lively discussions with Bangladeshi organisations and covered a range of possible action items that public and private sector players could adopt to improve energy management and reduce their carbon footprint.


Co-organiser
Aamra Group

Opening Address
Syed Farhad Ahmed, Managing Director, aamra Group 

Presentations
Farizan d’Avezac de Moran, Senior Partner, GreenA Consultants
Gitansh Malik, National Head for Commercial Building Solutions & HVAC Drives, Danfoss
Hossain Towhid, Director Business Development (APAC / North America), Envision Digital

Welcome and Closing Remarks
Lavan Thiru, Executive Director, Infrastructure Asia

The Philippines aims for renewable energy to comprise 35% of the country’s energy mix by 2030, and 50% by 2040. To attract foreign investment to boost the renewable energy sector, the Philippine government has shifted towards allowing full foreign ownership of renewable energy projects, and has launched initiatives such as Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) to facilitate timely investments in new or additional renewable energy capacities.

The GEAP market sounding event is jointly organised with the Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage international participation from Singapore-based renewable energy players and obtain constructive feedback on the GEAP parameters and criteria. Based on the feedback consolidated from this market sounding event, Infrastructure Asia and DOE will identify concrete changes that could be considered for future iterations of the GEAP. 

The invited speakers at this event provided insight on capturing renewable energy opportunities in the Philippines and exchanged best practices from other markets in Southeast Asia that could be adapted for the Philippines. The panel discussion, moderated by Infrastructure Asia, explored the conditions needed to instill further confidence in international players. This includes a stronger grid to support the high penetration of renewables, a robust supply chain for renewables technologies, and a lower GEAP performance bond more aligned with developers’ risk appetite.


Co-organiser
Department of Energy, Philippines

Opening Address
Dr. Emmanuel Fernandez, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General, Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore

Presentations
Atty. Carla Grepo, Commercial Counsellor, Philippine Trade and Investment Center, Embassy of the Philippines to Singapore
Atty. Marissa Cerezo, Director IV, Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Department of Energy

Panel Discussion
Lavan Thiru, Executive Director, Infrastructure Asia
Atty. Marissa Cerezo, Director IV, Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Department of Energy
Jackie Surtani, Director - Infrastructure Finance, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Asian Development Bank
Olivier Duguet, CEO and Co-Founder, The Blue Circle
Narsingh Chaudhary, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Black & Veatch

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the Philippines’ main international gateway. Critical investments into the modernisation and expansion of NAIA are much needed to fully unlock the long-term growth potential of the Philippines aviation market.

The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) have launched the contract to rehabilitate, operate, optimise and maintain NAIA, with Asian Development Bank (ADB) acting as the Transaction Adviser. This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project will cover all facilities of the airport, including its runways, four terminals and associated facilities.

Infrastructure Asia supported the NAIA Project Roadshow to amplify investor interest amongst Singapore-based and regional parties in this solicited tender. Over two sessions, 200 representatives across operators, financing institutions, professional services, solution providers and others in the aviation industry joined us to exchange feedback on the transaction parameters and clarify their questions with the project stakeholders.

Key Stakeholders from DOTr, MIAA, PPP Center and ADB:
Mr. Jaime J. Bautista, Secretary, Philippine Department of Transportation
Mr. Roberto Cecilio O. Lim, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports, Philippine Department of Transportation
Mr. Bryan Andersen Y. Co, Officer-In-Charge, General Manager, Manila International Airport Authority
Mr. Joel C. Laguerta, Director, Project Management Service-Aviation, Philippine Department of Transportation
Ms. Cynthia C. Hernandez, Executive Director, PPP Center of the Philippines
Mr. John Dominic Z. Zafe, Director IV, PPP Center of the Philippines
Ms. Rosemary Ong, Senior Markets Development Advisory Specialist, Office of Markets Development and PPP, Asian Development Bank
Mr. John Phillip Sevilla, Consultant-International Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Expert, Office of Markets Development and Public-Private Partnership, Asian Development Bank

ASEAN is set to become the fourth-largest economy globally by 2030. In the absence of significant policy change and investments into the energy sector, Southeast Asia’s energy demand is expected to triple by 2050 from the 2020 level. A transition to a cleaner and more energy-efficient future will be key to dealing with the region’s energy trilemma of security, sustainability, and affordability. To moderate energy demand growth and improve energy cost efficiencies, an accelerated shift to renewables and the adoption of demand-side management measures must go hand-in-hand. Energy efficiency measures are key for keeping electricity demand growth within reasonable limits.

The Energy Efficiency Track, jointly organised by Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and Infrastructure Asia will convene policymakers and the private sector to identify opportunities to chart the path forward.

Consisting of two inter-related sessions, the first session, “Driving Decarbonisation in ASEAN Infrastructure”, will bring together public and private sector participants from the ASEAN region to discuss mechanisms and tools to advance sustainable infrastructure projects. The second session, “Decarbonisation of Asia’s Built Environment through Energy Efficiency”, will provide a forum to discuss strategies in retrofitting existing buildings to aid climate mitigation and accelerate decarbonisation. This roundtable will showcase successful case studies from real estate owners, practitioners, and financiers as they plan, finance, and execute their green transitions.

Click here for more information about the event.