Resilient Finance in Uncertain Times: Strengthening Sustainable Finance Ecosystems in Asia

UNDP and the Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) member, the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association (SSFA), co-hosted a high-level roundtable in Singapore titled “Resilient Finance in Uncertain Times: Strengthening Sustainable Finance Ecosystems in Asia”, last month. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, and Mr. Edward Vrkic, UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.

The roundtable focused on practical actions to strengthen sustainable finance ecosystems across Asia, identifying opportunities and addressing key barriers such as fragmented taxonomies, data asymmetry, and regulatory gaps.

The discussion underscored the importance of robust public-private partnerships, clear regulatory environments, and investable pipelines to accelerate SDG-aligned capital flows. UNDP showcased its unique role as a development partner in building enabling environments and de-risking investments through strategic collaborations across the region. With ASEAN well-positioned to lead in sustainable finance due to its demographic and economic potential, the roundtable offered a valuable platform to align stakeholders and advance collective efforts. The event concluded with a shared recognition of the need for deeper collaboration and greater capital mobilization to support inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia.

The session also convened senior representatives from leading financial institutions—including Standard Chartered, SMBC, Robeco, Norges Bank Investment Management, Swiss Re, BNP Paribas, MUFG, and OCBC—alongside UNDP leadership.