Mekong Capital plans SEA climate fund

Mekong Capital was founded in 2001 as the first fund in Vietnam to focus only on investing in private local companies instead of state-owned firms or joint ventures. — Reuters

SINGAPORE: Vietnam-focused private equity firm Mekong Capital is looking to build a climate fund worth up to US$200mil (RM923.4mil) as early as next year, focusing on investments that will help with the regeneration of forests in the Mekong region.

The Ho Chi Minh City-based firm is setting up a team for the fund, which will look at businesses that will help restore forests including those involved in organic and seaweed farming in the Mekong region comprising Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, its founder and partner Chris Freund told Reuters.