Convening Private Sector Investment in Climate-Smart Commodity Production in Southeast Asia

MARCH 29, 2017 | BANGKOK

Building a coalition among leading corporations, financial institutions, and certification platforms investing in climate-smart commodity production

2

Event Concept

Background Under the global Paris Agreement1, countries in Southeast Asia have committed to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and climate strategies. To reach these targets, governments must now cultivate partnerships that motivate investment and action to drive change at scale.

Global business leaders have also made ambitious commitments to reduce GHG emissions. Leading corporations have pledged to move toward net zero deforestation in key commodity supply chains by 2020, including rice, palm oil, forestry products, and even aquaculture. Recently, international agribusiness leaders committed to make 50 percent more food available while reducing agricultural emissions by 50 percent by 20302. With increasing demand for sustainably sourced commodities, leading corporations and investors are aligning business as usual with investments into ever maturing sustainability models.

Agriculture and forestry commodity production is a significant source of GHG emissions in Southeast Asia and presents strong opportunities for public-private collaboration to promote lower-emission approaches, which can have positive economic, social, and environmental impacts for countries, business, and rural farming communities.

ObjectivesThis regional event brings together top executives from leading corporations and investment firms, regional small and medium sized enterprises, commercial commodity certification platforms, and senior government officials to align actions and accelerate investment into climate-smart value chains in the transition to greener and cleaner economies. Our focus: �� Highlight emerging strategies, tools, and technical services for promoting more transparent, resilient, and lower-emission

commodity production in Southeast Asia; �� Provide insights on investment opportunities associated with national climate change targets; �� Showcase corporate commitments, investments, and long term goals; and �� Explore country-specific policies to enable incubation and deployment of commercial investment.

Collaborating OrganizationsThis regional meeting is convened and sponsored by the Asia Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Partnership, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and organized by the USAID Climate Economic Analysis for Development, Investment and Resilience (CEADIR) Activity.

1. More information about the Paris Agreement: http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php

2. More information on the Tropical Forest Alliance 2020: www.tfa2020.org, and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development Low Carbon Technology Partnerships Initiative: www.wbcsd.org/Projects/Climate-Smart-Agriculture/News/Agri-business-Leaders-climate-smart-at-COP21-make-50-more-food-reduce-agricultural-emissions-50-2030

3

Working ProgramAll sessions take place at the Sofitel Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 08:00 – 08:30

Venue: Ballroom FoyerRegistration

08:30 – 09:00Venue: Ballroom

Welcome and Setting the Intention Opening remarks will reinforce meeting objectives and desired outcomes; help frame discussion and create awareness of the different drivers among stakeholders; highlight linkages between country climate change targets, market drivers, and development and business objectives; and spotlight opportunities for companies to deliver tangible co-benefits in key markets.

Welcome address:�� Alfred Nakatsuma, Director of Regional Environment Office, USAID Asia

Keynote address: �� Kundhavi Kadiresan, Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, FAO

09:00 – 10:00Venue: Ballroom

Session 1: Aligning Agribusiness and Climate Action: Vision, Investments, and Challenges from Private Sector CommitmentsLeading corporations will discuss their vision, investments, and challenges to meet growing regional and global demand for food and forestry products while reducing GHG emissions in their value chains. Panelists will share drivers for these decisions; innovative models and methods to create a system for success; challenges for scaling good practices; and priority needs to better align approaches with national and global climate change targets, e.g., Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Moderator: Rachel Zedeck, Director for Sustainable Programs, Control Union

Panelists:�� Petra Meekers, Director CSR and Sustainable Development, Musim Mas Holdings�� Darian McBain, Global Director of Sustainable Development, Thai Union �� Khac Hai Nguyen, Chief Executive Officer, The PAN Group

10:00 – 10:30Venue: Ballroom Foyer

Morning Coffee Break and Networking

10:30 – 11:30Venue: Ballroom

Session 2: Climate-Smart Financing for Scale and ImpactRegional and international financiers will challenge the status quo and share their insights into the risks and opportunities of climate smart agriculture and forestry investments across the finance spectrum: incubation, growth, mezzanine. They will discuss the drivers for these decisions; innovative financial models, tools, and methods for building a pipeline of bankable investments; challenges for scaling investment; and needs in order to align approaches with national and global climate change targets.

Moderator: Marie Lam-Frendo, Associate Director, Atkins Acuity

Panelists:�� Prasun Das, Secretary General, Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association�� James Bui, Managing Partner, Lotus Impact�� Arindom Datta, Asia Head – Sustainability Banking, Rabobank

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

18:30 – 20:00Venue: Inspiration Floor

(3rd level)

Networking ReceptionThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will host an evening reception at the Sofitel Sukhumvit. This will include a running slideshow to promote networking, through profiling workshop participants and their investments, activities, and interests related to climate-smart commodity production in the region.

4

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

11:30 – 12:30Venue: Ballroom

Session 3: Next Generation Strategies: Commitments from Southeast Asian GovernmentsSenior government representatives will discuss their NDC targets, strategies, and investments designed to support GHG emission reductions from the agriculture and forestry sectors. Panelists will highlight the roles of government and the private sector in achieving NDC targets, how governments are offering or will offer incentives through policy and regulation, and priority opportunities for aligning private sector action and NDC targets.

Moderator: Beau Damen, Natural Resources Officer – Climate Change and Bioenergy, FAO

Panelists:�� Miranti Ariani, Researcher, Indonesian Agricultural Environment Research Institute, Indonesia�� Joel Rudinas, Philippines AMIA Program, Department of Agriculture, Philippines�� Nguyen Thi Dieu Thinh, Senior Official, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam

12:30 – 13:30Venue: Voila Restaurant

(2nd level)Lunch

Session 4: Scaling Investment and Achieving ImpactParticipants will join one of two concurrent session tracks.

13:30 – 14:30Venue: Salon I

4 A: Commercial Certification: Tools for Scaling Verifiable Impact Representatives of internationally accredited certification schemes and their clients will summarize their visions for impact and discuss the opportunities and challenges of using certification platforms as entry points to promote, track, and verify GHG reductions in commodity value chains.

Moderator: Rachel Zedeck, Director for Sustainable Programs, Control Union

Speakers:�� Wyn Ellis, Coordinator, Sustainable Rice Platform�� Shizuka Yasui, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Forestry Stewardship Council �� Kunthy Kann, Chief Executive Officer, Battambang Rice Investment Co., Ltd�� Duong Van Chin, President of Dinh Thanh Agricultural Research Center, Loc Troi Group �� Stephane Passeri, Project Coordinator, Promotion of Rural Development through Development

of Geographical Indications at Regional Level in Asia, FAO

Activity: The context-setting panel discussion will be followed by an interactive exercise in which participants will work in groups based on the commodity in which they primarily work (or are interested in). Groups will refer to commodity value chain maps (provided by workshop organizers) to discuss the key entry points in the system for promoting, tracking, and verifying GHG emission reductions and identify challenges within the system and potential solutions.

13:30 – 14:30Venue: Salon II

4 B: How To Achieve Scale and Impact in Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Commodity Production In this industry “black box” discussion, representatives of leading corporations will highlight challenges and achievements related to business models and best practices for realizing verifiable emissions reductions in agricultural and forestry commodity production, while attaining adequate profit margins, yields, quality, and market access. Participants should come prepared to reflect on topics of interest to industry.

Moderator: Erwin Widodo, Southeast Asia Regional Coordinator, Tropical Forest Alliance 2020

Industry Discussants:�� Dewi P. Bramono, Deputy Director Sustainability & Stakeholder Engagement, Asia Pulp and

Paper�� Jorge Disuanco, Chief Executive Officer, Macnut (Phils) Inc.�� David King, Chairman, GEA Timber Ventures

5

Wednesday, March 29, 2017 Session 5: Scaling Investment and Achieving ImpactParticipants will join one of two concurrent session tracks.

14:30 – 15:30Venue: Salon I

5 A: The Data Gap: Understanding Risk, Reward and OpportunityA barrier to investment and scaling best practices are the data gaps that exist to effectively understand costs, opportunities, and impact of climate-smart practices and to help de-risk low-emission agricultural and forestry investments. This session focuses on data and information needs of the stakeholders in commodity value chains, and how higher quality data and data analytics can be used to better assess investment opportunities, understand impacts, and de-risk and deploy more investment to support economic gains and help achieve climate change targets (NDCs).

Moderator: Christie Owen, Thailand Country Director, Pact

Speakers: �� Alistair Douglas, Partner, EcoHub Global �� Representatives from business and government

Activity: The context-setting panel discussion will be followed by an interactive exercise in which participants will work in groups based on the commodity in which they primarily work (or are interested in). Groups will refer to commodity value chain maps (provided by workshop organizers) to identify areas where data gaps inhibit climate action, determine the most significant data gaps, and discuss what needs to be done and by whom to overcome these challenges.

14:30 – 15:30 Venue: Salon II

5 B: The Entrepreneurial Journey: Layering Circular Economy Investments To Reduce Risk and Grow ProfitsThe real entrepreneurs championing circular economy models will discuss the financial, social, and environmental risks, rewards, and benefits of integrating circular economy into their business models. Participants will hear case studies on methods and technologies that support increased production and cost savings while reducing the GHG footprint of a company’s supply chain (e.g., conversion of agricultural and forestry byproduct to energy).

Moderator: Ingo Puhl, Chief Growth Officer & Managing Partner, South Pole Carbon Asset Mgt.

Speakers:�� Le Hoang The, Director, Daviwood �� Bo Andersen, Manager, CF Nielsen/Daviwood

Activity: The context-setting panel discussion will be followed by an interactive exercise in which participants will work in groups based on the commodity in which they primarily work (or are interested in). Groups will refer to commodity value chain maps (provided by workshop organizers) to identify opportunities and challenges in the value chain for using circular economy approaches.

15:30 – 16:00Venue: Ballroom Foyer

Afternoon Coffee Break and NetworkingTo include an interactive voting activity where participants select priority topics on which to advance work and collaboration.

16:00 – 16:30Venue: Ballroom

Session 6: Peer Exchange and Reflections The moderator from each of the breakout sessions (Sessions 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B) will summarize the points discussed in their session that made the biggest impression on them and their session’s participants.

Moderator: Mikell O’Mealy, Activity Manager, USAID CEADIR Activity

6

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

16:30 – 17:00Venue: Ballroom

Session 7: Climate Action Consumers and Strategies SDG 12 requires action to promote both sustainable production and responsible consumption. Participants will debate on the importance of consumer awareness, responsibility, and impact in driving corporate strategies, investments, and reporting (verification). Participants will also discuss efforts being made to better understand and respond to consumer trends that prioritize sustainably conscious, climate-smart brands and goods.

Moderator: Paradon Munro, Chief Executive Officer, VDM Group Limited

17:00 – 17:30Venue: Ballroom

Session 8: What does Success Look Like: Prioritizing Actionable Next StepsA representative from the private and public sectors will provide closing reflections, highlighting key findings, needs, and recommended actions. A facilitator will summarize accomplishments, next steps, and linkages with other efforts in the region.

Reflections:�� Representative from private sector�� Soumya Chaturvedula, Programme Coordinator, Asia LEDS Partnership

Closing:�� Aurelia Micko, Deputy Director of Regional Environment Office, USAID Asia

7

Speakers

Our esteemed speakers and moderators include executives from leading corporations that are supporting production of climate-smart agricultural and forest commodities in Asia; top managers from commercial banks and investment firms developing business and financing models for sustainable and climate-smart commodity production; leaders from internationally recognized commercial certification platforms for key commodities; and senior national-level government officials from Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Welcome and Keynote Addresses

Moderators, Panelists, and Speakers

Kundhavi Kadiresan Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Kundhavi Kadiresan has more than 25 years of senior managerial experience in economic and policy development. Ms. Kadiresan, an economist, has spent most of her professional career with the World Bank Group. She has

worked in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America, where she led senior-level policy dialogues and managed large loan portfolios. With extensive experience in both developed and developing countries, she brings a strategic perspective and pragmatic approach to the developmental challenges facing the world. As FAO’s Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, her primary objectives are to support the coordination and monitoring of regional events, knowledge and information exchange and the further development of regional norms and standards. This includes collaborative capacity development of FAO constituents, resource mobilization and aid coordination.

Alfred Nakatsuma Director, Regional Environment Office, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia

Alfred Nakatsuma is the Director of the USAID Regional Environment Office, responsible for USAID’s regional programs in 20+ countries on climate change mitigation and adaptation, counter-wildlife trafficking, marine resources

management, clean energy, science and technology, and sustainable Mekong River Basin development. He graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor in Civil Engineering, and from the University of Southern California with Master degrees in Economics and Urban & Regional Planning. He is a member of the Senior Foreign Service, having served in Indonesia, Philippines, Washington DC, Guatemala and Bolivia. He also served as a Fulbright Scholar working with the Ministry of Development in Peru, and as a Mansfield Congressional Fellow working in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Alistair DouglasPartner, EcoHub Global

Dr. Alistair Douglas is a founder/partner of EcoHub, a public-private initiative building a data driven platform aiming to improve the safety, security, traceability, sustainability and profitability of seafood supply chains. Whilst based in Japan and conducting research at the Tsukiji Market, he developed a rapid, non-destructive quality grading

technique for tuna, and later a fillet-level traceability system for the same species, that together with Australia’s CSIRO, demonstrated forensic traceability from a single piece of sushi to an individual animal is possible. Alistair also holds a BA in Japanese and is ISO9001 and Best Aquaculture Practice lead auditor qualified.

Arindom DattaAsia Head, Sustainability Banking, Rabobank

Arindom Datta is the Asia Head, Sustainability Banking for the Rabobank Group. He is also the Head of Rural & Development Banking / Advisory. Arindom has over 24 years of experience in Rural Finance, Cooperative Banking, Microfinance and Agribusiness banking. Currently he is leading Rabobank’s sustainability agenda on knowledge, risk

management and business development across Asia. He also heads the Rural banking and advisory portfolio in India and for Rabobank Foundation oversees projects in agriculture cooperatives and “access to finance”. Arindom is a Mathematics honours graduate from St. Stephen’s College and has an MBA with specialization in Finance and Strategy.

Aurelia MickoDeputy Director, Regional Environment Office, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia

Aurelia Micko oversees USAID’s environment profile from its regional mission in Bangkok, covering Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Sustainable Mekong activities. Prior to joining USAID RDMA in 2015, she was Deputy Director of the Environment Office at USAID USAID/Indonesia, and Deputy

Director Office of Energy & Environment in USAID/Philippines. She has worked at USAID in Washington DC and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Global Programs. She has a BA in Biochemistry/Biophysics and a Masters degree from the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Management.

Beau DamenNatural Resources Officer – Climate Change and Bioenergy, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

Over the past 12 years Beau Damen has worked as a natural resource management specialist focused on promoting equitable, climate resilient and low emissions development in the region. Beau has

experience delivering policy and field–level technical assistance programs on climate change adaptation and mitigation and renewable energy development in over 15 countries in South, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Most recently Beau has been coordinating the implementation of FAO work programs in four countries in the region for the Global Programme Integrating Agriculture into National Adaptation Plans, which is supported by the German Government and implemented jointly by UNDP and FAO.

8

Darian McBainGroup Director, Sustainable Development and Member of Risk Management Committee, Thai Union

As the global director of sustainability for Thai Union, the world’s largest producer of canned tuna, Dr. Darian McBain is focused on implementing change that will drive sustainability through the entire seafood industry. Working in partnership with a

wide range of NGOs, she develops programs designed to manage the environmental and social impacts of the sector. With strong experience in sustainable supply chains, Darian is working at every level of the seafood industry – from vessels and manufacturing to importers and retailers. Darian has spent her career delivering strategies to contribute to a more sustainable society, including engaging with audiences and helping organizations tell their stories.

David KingChairman, GEA Timber Ventures

David King began his professional career in international development, initially as an agricultural extension officer in PNG and since 1983 has been based in Asia where he served as regional manager for an Australian consulting group. He has worked for multilateral and bilateral development organizations including, ADB, World Bank, EU,

AusAID, JICA, UNICEF and World Vision in many countries across Asia and the Pacific. In 2010, has was one of the founding directors of GEA Timber ventures with the aim to initiate and build this development model. He also advises USA Fair Trade Small Holder Coconut Producers in Quezon province on improved agricultural practices.

Dewi BramonoDeputy Director of Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP), Indonesia

Dewi Bramono is responsible to drive and monitor the implementation of standards and global best practices that improve the sustainability of APP’s operations in Indonesia. She is a key contributor to the development of policies, guidelines and

systems required to help in achieving sustainability goals throughout APP’s and its suppliers’ operations. She manages the implementation of APP’s Forest Conservation Policy, which includes commitments to zero deforestation and implementation of management practices in peatland for carbon emission reduction. Ms. Bramono is Vice Chairman for the Executive Board for the Belantara Foundation, a not-for-profit that focuses on ten fragile landscapes in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Duong Van ChinPresident of Dinh Thanh Agricultural Research Center, Loc Troi Group

Duong Van Chin is General Secretary of the Council for Science & Technology and Environment of Loc Troi Group and President of the Dinh Thanh Agricultural Research Center, which belongs to the Loc Troi Joint Stock Company. He has served in multiple roles under the Cuulong Delta Rice Research

Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, including as the institute’s Deputy Director and Head of the Farming Systems Department. Duong has a Ph.D and M.Sc. in Agronomy from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India, and a B.Sc. in Crop Production from Nong Lam University, Vietnam.

Erwin WidodoSouth East Asia Regional Coordinator, Tropical Forest Alliance 2020

Dr. Erwin Widodo is one of Indonesia’s leading environmental scientists with more than 20 years of experience of research and management experience in environmental policy, biodiversity and forest management. Prior to joining TFA 2020, Erwin was the Executive Director of Indonesian Climate

Change Trust Fund and was an Executive Director in the Sumatra Sustainability Fund. He was also the CEO of PT Alam Bukit Tigapuluh, the Deputy Director for Forest, Species, and Fresh Water at WWF Indonesia, and held a senior role at KEHATI, the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation. Erwin, earned his PhD in Resources and Energy Science from the School of Science and Technology in Kobe University, Japan.

James Dien BuiManaging Partner, Lotus Impact

James Dien Bui has over 15 years experience in economic development and impact investing in North America and Southeast Asia. At Lotus Impact, James oversees social impact investments in micro-finance, workforce development, affordable housing and sustainable agriculture. He also leads the development of impact metrics and

evaluative studies. Prior to joining Lotus Impact, James worked as principal consultant on affordable housing, workforce development and clean energy projects for a number of clients including the IFC, FMO and non-profit organizations worldwide. He helped raise and implement over USD50 million for social impact projects, particularly in post Hurricane Katrina reconstruction and clean water projects in Southeast Asia.

Joel RudinasPhilippines AMIA Program, Department of Agriculture, Philippines

Jorge Hernandez DisuancoFounder and President, Macnut (Phils) Inc.

Jorge Hernandez Disuanco is Filipino-American Businessman from Honolulu, Hawaii and Philippines. As a “Gentleman Farmer” Jorge initiated, researched and was responsible for the introduction of Macadamia Nut propagation. He re-introduced Arabica coffee mass planting as a poverty eliminator and climate change mitigator and also propagated

other Arabica coffee varieties suitable for the Philippines. He is a member of the Technical Working Group of Plantation Crops of the Bureau of Plant Industry, TWG for PNS GAP (Phil. National Standard for Coffee), Philippine Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries, Founding Member of Grow Asia Philippines, as well as a member of Consultative Committee on Bank Consortium in Agricultural Credit.

Bo AndersenManager, CF Nielsen / Daviwood

Christy OwenCountry Director, PACT

Christy Owen is the Thailand Country Director for Pact, a global NGO. She also served as Chief of Party for the Mekong Partnership for the Environment (MPE)- a regional project supported by USAID. Through MPE, Christy convened 10 government ministries, 50 private sector companies, and 20 civil society organizations representing five Mekong

countries to develop more effective EIA practice and information sharing for better decision making around large scale infrastructure. She has spent the past 18 years designing and implementing environmental management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change projects in the Philippines, Venezuela, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, and the lower Mekong region.

9

Ingo PuhlChief Growth Officer & Managing Partner, South Pole Carbon Asset Mgt.

Ingo Puhl began his career in clean energy as a consultant to the World Bank in 1995 and became a pioneer in the emerging international carbon market. After relocating to Bangkok in 2005, he lead South Pole’s efforts to develop a carbon-finance backed clean energy project portfolio in Asia,

consisting of currently around 150 projects. He currently capacity works with many countries on their efforts to establish results-based policy instruments to incentivize clean energy investments and on the design of clean energy finance vehicles for institutional investors. Ingo is also the co-founder of Whapow Co Ltd, producer of a highly sustainable, algae-based, high-protein frozen superfood snack made in Thailand.

Marie Lam-FrendoAssociate Director, Atkins Acuity

Marie Lam-Frendo is an infrastructure professional with 16 years of experience and is currently an Associate Director within Atkins Acuity - Atkins’ new Advisory business. She recently launched with ING, Credit Suisse, FMO, and UNDP an innovative platform to finance Asian mid-size projects compliant with the SDGs,

called Sustainable Finance for Collective Asia (SFCA). She previously worked for the World Economic Forum, heading the Infrastructure Initiatives department, where she led and published several reports on infrastructure financing best practices. She led the dissemination effort of these best practices to governments through multiple workshops, and advocate this to coalitions like B20 and G20.

Mikell O’MealyActivity Manager, USAID Climate and Economic Analysis for Development, Investment and Resilience (CEADIR)

Mikell O’Mealy manages the USAID CEADIR Activity, which is working to accelerate private finance and investment toward the implementation of national climate change commitments in Asia. She is a Senior Associate in Climate Change with Abt

Associates, where she leads global and country-specific climate change projects. Prior to joining Abt, she served as USAID’s Eastern Caribbean Climate Change Advisor, with focus on strengthening the resilience of small island nations. She served in USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia and in USAID’s Russia Mission, designing and managing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development initiatives to strengthen the capacities of local, national and regional partners.

Miranti ArianiResearcher, Indonesian Agricultural Environment Research Institute

Miranti Ariani currently works as a researcher at Indonesian Agriculture Environment Research Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) since 2006. Her main responsibility is conducting research on GHG emission and absorption from agriculture. She has been working on GHG national inventories

since 2011, and has been a member of the MoA Climate Change Team since 2012. She is involved in the development of Regional Action Plan to mitigate GHG emission, and has supported development of Indonesia First BUR in 2014-2015, INDC and NDC in 2015-2016, and the TNC in 2016-2017.

Kunthy KannChief Executive Officer, Battambang Rice Investment Co., Ltd (BRICo)

Kunthy Kann brings 15 years of managerial experience at the highest level, leading change, transformation, good governance and transparency. Prior to joining BRICo, Kunthy had been working as Country Manager of Digital Divide Data, the largest social enterprise in Cambodia (voted as

world 100 best social enterprise globally 3 years in a row). Kunthy was awarded a scholarship to study corporate management for in Japan, including internships at Hitachi, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd, NTT, Toyota. He completed Executive MBA course conducted by Portland State University focusing on emerging international entrepreneurial leadership, and is a graduate from Charles Stuart University, Australia major in management.

Nguyen Khac HaiChief Executive Officer, The PAN Group

Nguyen Khac Hai completed a LL.M on Comparative Law at Nagoya University where he was awarded with the 3th prize in the 4th Inter-college negotiation competition among Japan’s Universities, and also holds a BA in Business Law from Hanoi National Economics University. Mr. Hai became the CEO of The PAN Group, a leading Agriculture and Food

Group in Vietnam, in 2016. Previously, he was Deputy CEO of SSI Asset Management, a prestigious and leading asset manager in Vietnam. Mr. Hai has extensive experience in advising and structuring deals for securities companies, fund managers, financial institutions as well as policy makers. He has deep expertise in managing and helping to restructure agriculture and food companies in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Dieu TrinhSenior Official, Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Dieu Trinh has been an Official at Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment for 14 years. Her current work contributes to the formulation and implementation of the Vietnam Green Growth Strategy and Action

Plan and to the planning process, with focus on mainstreaming climate change issues in sustainable socio-economic development planning. She is active in UNFCCC negotiations and works with development partners across the globe for international knowledge transfer and experience sharing. She serves as the co-chair of the Financial Working Group at the LEDS Global Partnership and Co-chair Assistant of the Asia LEDS Partnership Steering Committee.

Paradon MunroChief Executive Officer, VDM Group Limited

VDM Group Limited provides strategic consultancy and advisory to organizations concerning international trade and development for agribusiness. Areas include strategic market intelligence and analysis, establishing businesses in foreign markets, consumer behavior and branding, and sustainable development. Prior to VDM,

Paradon Munro was a Managing Director at C.P. Group, managing their international rice and food businesses and promoting CP’s global flagship rice brand. Other responsibilities included M&A’s, product development, supply-chain management, and food security. Paradon has traveled and lived extensively in Asia, North America, Latin America, North Africa, West Africa, and Oceania, specializing in high-risk, high-potential markets.

10

Stephane PasseriOfficer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Project Coordinator, Promotion of Rural Development through Development of Geographical Indications at Regional Level in Asia

Stephane Passeri is an Officer of the FAO since March 2013, and is currently managing the FAO/AFD (French Development Agency)

Project on the Promotion of Rural Development through Development of Geographical Indications (GI) at Regional Level in Asia, stationed at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. This 4 year project launched in February 2013 aims to increase the income of small farmers by developing GI value chains, improving market access and increasing the recognition of GI by consumers. Previously, he was the Director for the European Patent Office of the European Union-ASEAN Project on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.

Prasun Kumar DasSecretary General, Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA)

Prasun Kumar Das is currently Secretary General of APRACA, Bangkok after successfully completing his term as the Regional Project Manager of International Fund for Agricultural Development where he coordinated with 5 country teams (China, India, Indonesia, Philippines and

Thailand) to pilot innovative rural and agricultural finance. Prior to this assignment, he served as Research Director in LANSA (DFID Project on Agricultural nutrition in South Asia), Associate Professor in Agri-Business Management and Finance, Downscaling Expert for World Bank project, international expert consultant in value chain finance for FAO, Senior Management position in public sector bank and rural development expert/advisor to Govt. of India.

Wyn EllisCoordinator, Sustainable Rice Platform

Dr. Wyn Ellis is Coordinator of the Sustainable Rice Platform, a global multi-stakeholder initiative with over 70 institutional partners, working to promote adoption of sustainable climate-smart best practice and resource use efficiency among smallholders and throughout global rice value chains. In 2015 the SRP launched the world’s first sustainability

standard for rice. Dr. Ellis has over 30 years’ experience in Asia, and his fields of expertise include agricultural development, value chain standards and agro-innovation. He has authored numerous academic publications, book chapters and articles, and serves on the Editorial Board of several international journals.

The Le HoangDirector, Daviwood

Rachel ZedeckDirector for Sustainable Programs, Control Union

Rachel Zedeck is an internationally recognized impact entrepreneur with 20 years of global experience. She passionately advocates for the advancement of smallholder farmers, SME agribusiness, women and the environment. Her work has successfully commercialized responsible

smallholder production models into economically, socially and environmentally responsible value chains supplying local, regional and export markets. Her long-term vision is to empower entrepreneurs, investors, consumers, government and non-profit organizations with unique knowledge to make critical decisions, leverage opportunities and minimize risk. Her previous ventures have received accolades including the 2010 UNEP/UNDP SEED Award for “green” enterprise and the 2013 KATERVA award for sustainable design in commercial agriculture.

Shizuka YasuiQuality Assurance Coordinator, Forestry Stewardship Council Asia Pacific

Shizuka Yasui has worked with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for almost 10 years. FSC works to promote responsible forest management, and is the leading certification scheme preferred by businesses including Fortune 500 companies. Shizuka is experienced in FSC system and sustainable

forestry practice in the Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, she coordinates certification integrity analysis and dispute resolution matters in the region. She is also involved in regional strategy development and government engagement. As a forester by training, she previously worked with an environmental NGOs, an international organization, a trade association, and as a university lecturer.

Petra. W. MeekersDirector of CSR and Sustainable Development, Musim Mas Group

Dr. Petra Meekers has a background in biochemistry, with international experience in quality management consultancy including environmental and social impact assessments. Based in Asia since 1998, she has been involved in the implementation of environmental systems and social frameworks

for a diverse range of companies. At the Musim Mas Group – a global palm oil corporation with operations spanning the entire palm oil supply chain – Petra’s role includes developing group sustainability policy and strategy, working with the Group’s businesses and their key customers to identify opportunities for enhancing sustainability proposition in the world commodity sectors, providing leadership related to the societal impact of the Group’s activities, and advising the Board on sustainability matters.

Soumya ChaturvedulaProgramme Coordinator (Energy & Climate), ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia

Soumya Chaturvedula is heading the Energy & Climate team in ICLEI – South Asia. She has professional expertise in the field of energy, climate change mitigation/adaptation, GHG emissions inventories and climate planning, waste management, integrated

urban water management, third party monitoring/audit of EMP/fund standard implementation, sustainable urban development and related initiatives in local governments. Apart from managing projects and teams in allied sectors in ICLEI South Asia, she has also been involved in programme design and business development. She has proven working experience primarily in the South/South-East Asia region countries.

11

Event Outputs and Outcomes

Together, participants will address the challenges and opportunities to accelerate private sector strategies, investment models, and tools that support lower-emission commodity production.

OutputsDuring the meeting, participants will contribute to completing commodity-based value chain maps* depicting: where participants are operating in each value chain; where actions are needed to integrate GHG emission reduction, tracking, and verification measures; where greatest opportunities are for using circular economy models; and where participants have committed to act and collaborate on needed next steps.

Post-meeting, organizers will prepare and disseminate a report summarizing each meeting session and key messages that emerged, including: priority challenges, opportunities, and needs; recommended actions and proposed next steps; and linkages with other key efforts in the region.

Expected OutcomesCommunication and network building: This meeting will support private and public sector participants to learn from one another on what drives their decisions, and facilitate better communication and information exchange among diverse actors – laying the foundation for a network of leading private sector entities, government, and development partners for continued engagement and collaboration.

Alignment and coordinated action: Participants will identify actions that align the priorities of private sector, government, and development partners to achieve climate change targets, including promising opportunities for private sector to invest in actions and best practices that reduce GHG emissions in their value chain and provide co-benefits associated with market share, profits, and reduced risks.

Technical assistance: Private sector will help identify priority needs and opportunities for development partners to direct technical assistance toward strategies that accelerate and scale private sector action and investment for reducing emissions in agricultural and forestry commodity value chains.

* The organizers would like to thank Control Union for developing and designing the commodity-based value chain maps for use during this meeting.

Asia LEDS Partnership Secretariat

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia SecretariatGround Floor, NSIC-STP Complex, NSIC Bhawan, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110020, India

Tel : +91-11-4106 7220; Fax :91-11-4106 7221; Email: alpsecretariat@iclei.org

https://www.facebook.com/AsiaLEDSPartnership @AsiaLEDSwww.asialeds.org