On April 29, 2025, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Representative Office in Bangkok jointly launched the Asia Zero Emission Community Smart and Advanced Value-chain for Environment (AZEC-SAVE) Platform with the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, the Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) Bangkok Office, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Bangkok, and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Asian Representative Office in Bangkok. The platform is intended to promote energy-saving investments that contribute toward realizing the AZEC.
The Thai government announced its decarbonization goals, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2065. To accomplish these goals, the government intends to significantly expand the use of renewable energy. In Thailand, where manufacturing hubs for the automobile, electrical, and electronic industries are concentrated, reducing energy consumption through conservation is gaining attention as a means to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the industrial sector. In addition, due to the hot and humid climate in Thailand, commercial facilities must operate air conditioning systems continuously throughout the year, making efforts to reduce energy consumption through conservation particularly important.
Energy-saving investments not only help companies reduce their energy costs but also contribute to improving the competitiveness of Japanese and Thai companies amid the global trend of reducing GHG emissions across the entire supply chain. At the same time, the expansion of these efforts is expected to create significant business opportunities for Japanese companies that have strengths in the manufacture of high-efficiency equipment as well as those that provide cutting-edge services for visualizing and reducing GHG emissions.
The AZEC-SAVE Platform aims to support decarbonization initiatives in Thailand by promoting collaboration between companies and governmental and public institutions of both countries, while seamlessly providing Japanese public support that includes human resource development, technology introduction, matching services, and financing. The platform will also disseminate AZEC-related information, provide overviews and case studies of public support by participating institutions, and submit proposals to the Thai government based on opinions and requests regarding energy-saving investment regulations and support measures. JBIC will actively provide financial support to related projects by drawing on its various financial facilities and schemes.
