SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Bernama): Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn called for stronger partnerships and sustainable financing to address the complexities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during his address at the Asean Workshop on Sustainable Development 2025 on Monday.
Speaking at the workshop in Sunway University in Selangor, Malaysia, he emphasised the need for enduring partnerships among governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia to generate innovative solutions for the SDGs.
The event, organised by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for advancing the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
The SDSN, operating under the UN secretary-general, mobilises universities, think tanks, and national laboratories globally for action on sustainability.
"I invite the SDSN to work in tandem with Asean and its sustainability centres, such as the Asea Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue, to pursue synergistic solutions for achieving the SDGs,” Kao said.
In the speech text made available by the Asean Secretariat, he expressed confidence that the SDSN’s global network and extensive knowledge would be invaluable to Asean’s journey towards sustainability.
He stressed the critical importance of sustainable financing, urging the mobilisation of resources through innovative methods such as green bonds, blended finance, and impact investment, while encouraging active engagement with the private sector and philanthropic organisations.
Kao further addressed the issue of data gaps, stressing the importance of strengthening data collection, analysis and dissemination to foster data-driven decision-making across the Asean Community.
"While this requires significant resources, filling these gaps is essential for effective and targeted development efforts.”
Asean’s commitment to sustainable development remains unwavering, adding that the collective capacity to overcome challenges and achieve the SDGs will pave the way for a more prosperous, inclusive and resilient future for all, he added. - Bernama
