IIF-Maybank Sustainable Finance Forum 2026 advances ASEAN’s transition from ambition to bankable action

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Maybank, in collaboration with the Institute of International Finance (IIF), recently hosted the fourth annual IIF-Maybank Sustainable Finance Forum 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, which brought together 160 attendees consisting of senior policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, investors, corporates and sustainability leaders to explore how ASEAN can translate transition ambitions into bankable projects, and mobilise capital at scale.

Under the theme ‘From Ambition to Capital Mobilisation, Building on ASEAN’s Investable Transition Pathway,’ the one-day Forum provided a high-level platform for dialogue on the opportunities and challenges in financing ASEAN’s transition towards a low-carbon and resilient economy.

This year’s Forum took a ASEAN-wide perspective, bringing regional voices into the conversation on how ASEAN can shape credible transition pathways that reflect its diverse economic, energy transition and developmental contexts. The Forum highlighted the importance of greater regional collaboration to move beyond individual market approaches and identify practical opportunities in mobilising capital for ASEAN’s transition.

The forum saw the collaboration of IIF, represented by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, Sonja Gibbs, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance, Global Policy Initiatives and Emre Tiftik, Director, Sustainability Research and from Maybank, Dato’ Sri Khairussaleh Ramli, President & Group CEO and Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer.

As ASEAN enters a critical phase of translating sustainability commitments into real economic and investment opportunities, the Forum focused on moving beyond commitments and frameworks towards execution – identifying practical ways to convert credible transition plans into bankable projects and scalable financing opportunities in transition finance, the energy sector, climate resilience, high-integrity carbon markets and blue finance.

Speaking at the event, Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer Maybank said, “Malaysia and ASEAN are at an important juncture in their transition towards more sustainable and resilient economies. Mobilising the capital needed for this transition will require greater collaboration across the wider financing ecosystem. Through our continued partnership with IIF, Maybank is pleased to convene this dialogue and contribute to shaping practical approaches that can help bridge the gap between ambition and implementation. This year’s Forum provided a collaborative platform to build greater understanding, shared perspectives and identify opportunities to accelerate sustainable and transition finance across the region.”

The Forum featured a high-level dialogue and panel sessions such as, ‘From Ambition to Capital Mobilisation, Building on ASEAN’s Credible Transition Pathway’, ‘Financing the In-Between: Making ASEAN’s Transition Pathways Credible and Bankable’, ‘The ASEAN Energy Trilemma: Decarbonisation, Security and Affordability’, ‘Beyond Net Zero: Financing ASEAN’s Climate Resilience Economy’, ‘From Credits to Credibility: ASEAN’s Role in High-Integrity Carbon Markets’ and ‘Scaling Blue Finance Across ASEAN: From Pioneering Transactions to Systemic Impact’.

SOURCE: Maybank

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Maybank Group Corporate Affairs
Name: Izlyn Ramli
Tel: +60 19 200 0248
Email: corporateaffairs@maybank.com 

--BERNAMA