GBA-ASEAN INITIATIVE
upcoming
2026 GBA-ASEAN Conference on Energy Transition and Integration
July 29-30, 2026 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
July 29-30, 2026 | 📍Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
GBA-ASEAN Conference on Energy Transition and Integration
The 2026 GBA–ASEAN Conference on Energy Transition and Integration brought together policymakers, business leaders, investors, researchers, and development practitioners from 20 countries and territories to strengthen cooperation between the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and ASEAN and accelerate practical solutions for sustainable development.
Hosted by the GBA–ASEAN Initiative (GAI), the two-day conference focused on mobilizing investment, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, advancing regional energy integration, and translating sustainable development commitments into implementation. The program included high-level discussions on private capital and the energy transition, an address by Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and the in-person launch of the 2026 Sustainable Development Report, Implementing Sustainable Development: 2030 and Beyond.
On the second day, participants visited Unitrade Industries Berhad to explore sustainable manufacturing and industrial innovation in practice. The conference strengthened partnerships and built momentum for continued GBA–ASEAN cooperation on sustainable development and the energy transition.
JULY 27, 2026
SDSN, TPC, and NO.17 Foundation Expand Strategic Partnership
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has expanded its strategic partnership with TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) and the NO.17 Foundation through a new two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), deepening their shared commitment to advancing sustainable development and the energy transition across Asia
Building on the successful partnership established through the GBA–ASEAN Initiative (GAI), the expanded collaboration will broaden support across multiple SDSN programs. It will advance the development of knowledge products, educational platforms for private-sector leadership, and regional implementation initiatives, helping translate knowledge into practical action and scalable solutions for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The agreement marks an important step in scaling the partnership beyond GAI while strengthening continued collaboration across the region.
JANUARY 21-23, 2026 |📍Manila
Supporting the Philippines’ ASEAN Presidency:
SDSN GAI Delegation Meets Government Leaders
From January 21 to 23, 2026, Professor Jeffrey Sachs (President of UN SDSN), Dr. Sonia Sachs (Research Scholar at Columbia University), and Philo Wang (Head of Policy and Research for Asia and SIDS, SDSN) visited Manila to meet with senior officials from the Philippine government.
With the Philippines serving as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2026, the visit aimed to support the Philippines’ Presidency and facilitate cooperation under the GBA–ASEAN Initiative (GAI).
On January 21, the delegation held a lunch meeting with Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), after which they met with Undersecretary for Policy Leo M. Herrera-Lim at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
On January 23, at the Department of Trade and Industry, the delegation was received by Secretary Cristina Roque and Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo.
These meetings and discussions helped set the stage for GBA–ASEAN collaboration in business, sustainable development, research, and policy.
As the 2026 ASEAN Chair, the Philippines plays a critical role in promoting regional cooperation. This visit marked an important step for the next phase of the GBA-ASEAN Initiative implementation and paved the way for deeper cooperation across multiple sectors between the two regions.
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