In a concerted effort to drive global sustainability initiatives, BANANA & Partners was privileged to participate in the APEC Forum 2024, held from June 12-13 at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan. This year, our Chief Business Officer, Rifqi Al-Ghifari, represented our team at the “Digital Innovation to Implement SMEs’ Low-carbon Transformation Workshop,” continuing our commitment from the previous year’s forum in April 2023.
The workshop is a direct response to growing demands from the market, where a significant majority of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been called upon by their customers to actively reduce their carbon footprint. According to recent findings by the SME Climate Hub, 77% of SMEs have faced such demands, and 61% see the urgent need for tools that effectively measure and monitor greenhouse gas emissions.
This year’s APEC forum focused on harnessing digital innovations to facilitate a low-carbon transformation across SMEs in the Asia Pacific region. The event kicked off with insightful opening remarks from Dr. Chin-Tsang Ho, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Taiwan, and Dr. Hattori Takashi, Deputy Representative of JTEA Japan.
The comprehensive agenda spanned various engaging activities designed to foster deep understanding and collaborative solutions for climate challenges. Highlights included in-depth global trend analysis, sharing of inspiring case studies, workshops on greenhouse gas audits, and strategic discussions on digital decarbonization techniques. Such sessions were instrumental in illustrating practical steps and innovations for reducing carbon emissions within business operations.
Participants from various countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Peru, and more shared their experiences and initiatives, making the workshop a melting pot of ideas and strategies for sustainability. The Indonesian delegation was notably strong, featuring key figures such as Mohammad Naufal from Carbon Addons and Iben from Sebumi, alongside our own Rifqi Al-Ghifari from BANANA & Partners.
Rifqi Al-Ghifari shared his thoughts on the event: “The workshop not only offered a platform to explore innovative low-carbon solutions but also allowed us to gain new insights from the diverse array of participants. It was particularly impactful for us at BANANA & Partners as it broadened our perspective on low-carbon innovations and connected us with numerous like-minded startups across the Asia Pacific.”
The workshop also featured an expansive networking session, which allowed participants to forge valuable connections with industry leaders and peers from various sectors. These interactions are crucial as they foster collaborations and partnerships that can lead to sustainable business practices across regions.
Representatives from major stakeholders like the International Climate Development Institute (ICDI), Merck Life Science, Victor Taichung Machinery Works, Siemens, TAISE, AMging, ISPONRE (Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment), Miseucre Corp, KPMG, TIER, Shou Long Precision Industrial, Plastic Industry Development Center (PIDC), and others shared their latest advancements and strategies for integrating sustainability into their operations. The workshop was also enriched with site visits to industries that are at the forefront of carbon emission reduction innovations, providing participants with a firsthand look at the implementation of sustainable practices.
As BANANA & Partners continues to lead and innovate in the low-carbon sector, we deeply appreciate the opportunity provided by APEC to be a part of such a forward-thinking community. We are inspired to keep advancing our sustainability goals, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.
We thank APEC for including BANANA & Partners in this important event and look forward to continuing our active participation in global sustainability efforts.