13/11/2026

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FRIDAY | NOV 13, 2026 SCAN ME UK wants to work with Malaysia to unlock green investments

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

financial sustainability, strong cor porate governance and institutional grade reporting to attract institutional investors. Companies should also establish measurable impact reporting practices early, particularly as global investors face increasing expectations to demonstrate the impact of their investments. Additionally, businesses should demonstrate the ability to scale beyond Malaysia into the wider Asean region, as institutional investors often look for opportunities with regional growth potential. “These capabilities would help companies broaden their investor base and improve their access to regional and international capital,” said Tan. - by HAYATUN RAZAK ment Programme estimate, Nurul A’in said Malaysia would require about US$570 billion (RM2.4 trillion) in cumulative investment over the next two decades to support its climate and develop ment goals. She said the scale of the re quirement presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors to support the country’s transition. Nurul A’in said the CFA has identified priority investment areas including the circular economy, bioenergy and green construction, alongside other climate solutions. The programme helps identify businesses with commercial po tential and measurable climate impact, refine their funding stra tegies, strengthen investor materials and connect them with relevant investors for feedback and further discussions. The inaugural cohort comprised five businesses in waste and circular economy, two in industry and manu facturing, two in energy, and one each in transport, buildings and cons truction, and agriculture, forestry and other land use. The participating businesses also came from beyond the Klang Valley, with representation from Johor, Kedah, Malacca and Negeri Sem bilan. Nurul A’in said PwC hoped to include businesses from Sabah and Sarawak in the next cohort. At the investor engagement event, each business presented its invest ment proposition to a targeted group of investors based on its development stage and capital requirements. The CFA is funded by the UK government’s International Climate Finance through its Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and implemented in Malaysia by PwC Malaysia.

well as potential renewable energy solutions for Malaysian industrial and corporate customers. She said IFC had signed a financing framework agreement with DBS and Maybank in Singapore about two weeks before the panel discussion to develop the financing framework for the initiative. The project remains in the process of working towards bankability. Tan said IFC also seeks to bring other investors into projects through co-investments and collaboration with local financiers, banks and private equity funds. She added that IFC’s rigorous due diligence process could provide greater investor confidence and encourage other investors to participate. Businesses must demonstrate climate opportunities,” he said. Sharma noted closer cooperation should go beyond climate ambitions to deliver tangible commercial and economic benefits for both countries. He hoped the first Malaysian CFA cohort would mark the beginning of a broader partnership, with projects progressing from development to implementation through support from investors, governments and communities. “It’s really important that we have concrete examples of projects coming to life, projects that are actually delivering because investors see the value of those projects, the government sees the value of those projects, the community sees the value of those projects,” he said. Sharma urged stakeholders to maintain momentum and ensure the investor discussions translated into financing for the participating businesses. “Let’s just make sure we keep up the momentum and we deliver something concrete for everyone.” A total of 12 Malaysian climate businesses completed the CFA’s nine month technical assistance pro gramme, which prepared them to present their investment pro positions to potential investors. PwC Malaysia executive chair Datuk Nurul A’in Abdul Latif said the programme brought together busi nesses, investors and other partners to strengthen the commercial and financing propositions of climate focused businesses. “It’s clear that Malaysia’s recent Budget 2027 had emphasised green growth, ecological conservation and energy transition alongside eco nomic benefits, highlighting the importance of sustainability and climate finance to the country’s development priorities,” Citing a United Nations Develop

o Deepen partnership and leverage each other’s strengths to support climate-related opportunities, says high commissioner

KUALA LUMPUR: The United Kingdom is seeking to deepen its commercial partnership with Malaysia to unlock green invest ment opportunities, mobilise private capital, create businesses and generate jobs as both countries pursue their green transition am bitions. British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ajay Sharma said the two countries should leverage their respective strengths in finance, capital markets, technology and professional services to support climate-related investment. “I would like to see the UK and Malaysia doing much more together around green growth and invest ment,” he said in his speech at the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Malaysia Investor Engagement event yesterday.

gap between early-stage project development and investment, complementing wider UK efforts to support Malaysia’s transition. Sharma highlighted several UK government-backed financing mechanisms, including UK Export Finance, which can support projects involving British goods and services, and British International Investment (BII), which can invest in clean energy businesses seeking to scale. Another initiative, Mobilist, helps businesses access investment through public markets. “These tools are designed to work alongside private investors and help bring more private capital into

“The UK brings deep expertise in finance, capital markets, technology, and professional services. Malaysia has considerable financial strengths of its own, alongside growing opportunities in the green tran sition.” Sharma stated that the UK is supporting Malaysia’s transition through programmes such as UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions, which helps create the conditions for green investment. “Ultimately, we want that cooperation to translate into real investment and commercial oppor tunities,” he added. He said the CFA helps bridge the

Sharma, speaking at the CFA Malaysia Investor Engagement event, says the UK wants cooperation to translate into real investment and commercial opportunities.

M’sian firms seeking growth capital told to tap into IFC-backed funds KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian

For direct equity investments, IFC typically takes a longer-term approach, remaining invested for at least five to seven years to support the growth of portfolio companies. She said IFC works with companies at an earlier stage through pre investment advisory engagements to help develop projects to a level where they become bankable. “Depending on a project’s readiness, IFC could begin engaging with companies 12 to 24 months before a potential financing oppor tunity materialises,” she added. Tan cited its ongoing engagement with Citracore Energy in southern Johor, where IFC began discussions about 12 months earlier to support the development of a cross-border renewable energy supply project, as

maker and Credo, which have different investment mandates and target companies at various stages of growth. “IFC’s investments in these funds as a limited partner (LP) allow it to support businesses indirectly through fund managers rather than relying solely on direct investments. One value-add we could offer is through the funds that we’ve invested in as LP,” she said during a panel session at the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Malaysia investor Engagement event yesterday. Tan said IFC also provides financing across the capital structure, including debt, mezzanine financing and direct equity, while investing in private equity and venture capital funds.

companies seeking growth capital, particularly those in the climate and sustainability sectors, can tap into a network of venture capital and private equity funds backed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which has invested US$1.2 billion (RM4.9 billion) across eight funds. IFC Malaysia senior country officer Amanda Tan said the investments provide an alternative financing avenue for companies at different stages of development, as the development finance institution seeks to mobilise private capital and expand access to funding. She added some of the funds backed by IFC include Vertex Ventures, Jungle Ventures, Wave