Green Finance and Innovative Facilitating Measures_Global Legal & Sustainable Timber Forum (GLSTF)

Specialized Sub-forum on

Green Finance and Innovative Facilitating Measures

for Green Supply Chains -

New Financial Opportunities in Forest Sustainability

Date and Venue

Time: 12 September 2024, 9:00-12:00

Venue: 1/F Conference Room I+II, MGM COTAI, Macao SAR, China

Co-organizers

Global Green Supply Chain of Forest Products (Macao) Federation

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area-Green Finance Alliance (GBA-GFA)

Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI)

Collaborating Partners

Macau Association of Banks, UFIAG - Gabon, China Cameroon Timber Industry Association, Ejinhoro Indonesia International Research Institute Foundation, Doors Association of Guangdong, Qingfeng Furniture Association, Putian Commercial Association in Zhangjiagang

Background

In GLSTF 2023, a sub-forum was held on “Green Finance and Innovative Facilitating Measures for Green Supply Chains”, which is the first specialized forum for green finance of the timber industry in Macao. This Sub-forum was organized by Global Green Supply Chain of Forest Products (Macao) Federation (Macao Federation) and Luso International Banking Ltd, aiming at establishing an inter-promotional industrial environment of “Finance + Industry + Ecology”.

In GLSTF 2023, representatives from the Macao government, international organizations, and financial institutions jointly witnessed the signing ceremony of the "Green Finance Facilitating Green Supply Chain Cooperation Agreement" between the Macao Federation and three of China's most important home furnishing and building materials industry clusters. This is to leverage the advantages of the Macao Federation in digital traceability, capital matching, and international cooperation, so as to organize enterprises and industrial parks in producing countries to carry out "forest-to-consumer" cooperation.

The forestry industry has long supply chains and covered a variety of products. Sustainable forest management and green supply chains are "nature-based solutions" to compating forest deforestation and degradation. However, investing in forestry is insufficient because of the long payback period, low returns, and strong externalities. Currently, a large amount of costs arising from fulfilling social responsibilities are borne by the private sector itself. The ecological value of forest products is difficult to realize, which restricts the development of small and medium-sized forestry enterprises. How to solve the problem of "where does the money come from"? How to motivate the supply chain finance to invest in the forestry sector? How to promote the realization of the ecological value of forest products through financial services? The resolution of these issues requires the joint efforts of governments, social organizations, financial institutions, and enterprises, and other stakeholders to form a systematic solution for supply chain finance to support the global forest sustainability.

The theme of Sub-Forum 4 in GLSTF 2024 will be “New Financial Opportunities in Forest Sustainability”. This Sub-forum will be co-organized by the Macao Federation, Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area-Green Finance Alliance (GBA-GFA). This Sub-forum will take the sustainable development of global forests as a specific scenario, inviting policy makers, forestry enterprises, business associations, technology companies, certification bodies, and philanthropic funds, to jointly explore the construction of global ecological partnerships that empower both finance and sustainable forestry development. It aims to provide industry demonstrations for green finance to support sustainable development.

Objectives

This forum aims to establish a high-level dialogue platform between financial institutions and forestry stakeholders, inviting representatives from international organizations, multilateral trust funds, multilateral development banks, policy banks, commercial banks, enterprises, business associations, and certification bodies to discuss and exchange ideas. It seeks innovation in institutional mechanisms, policy systems, industrial models, and financial products, and explores systematic solutions for green finance to support the sustainable development of forestry. Meanwhile, this sub-forum aims to provide a platform for financial institutions and enterprises that adhere to sustainable management. It seeks to explore new business opportunities, discover new potential, and jointly build a better future for sustainable development.

Theme

New Financial Opportunities in Forest Sustainability

Scale

Around 100 participants will be expected to attend this Sub-forum 4 as well as the main forum, sustainable timber display, and B2B events of the GLSTF 2024.

Programme and Schedule

Time

Events and Topics

09:00-09:05

Group photos

09:05-09:20

Opening Ceremony
Moderator: Mr. Xu Wei, Chairman, the Presidium of the GGSC Promotion Committee
· Opening remarks by Mr. Ip Sio Kai, President, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area-Green Finance Alliance (GBA-GFA)
· Opening remarks by Ms. Rosalie Matondo, Minister, Ministry of Forest Economy, Republic of Congo [TBC]
· Welcome remarks by Mr. Yuan Bing, Chairman, Global Green Supply Chain of Forest Products (Macao) Federation

09:20-10:10

Session I: Current Status of Global Forestry Investment and Financing
Moderator: Ms. Malinda Zhu, Executive Director, South Star Australia Group Pty Ltd

Keynote Speech:
Current Status of Green Finance Supporting Global Forest Sustainability
· Mr. Nicolaus Cromme, Chief Operations Officer, Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)

Panel Discussion:
· Ms. Annie Ting, Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Timber Association, Malaysia
· Mr. Zhuang Bingchuan, CEO, Cameroon Along Co. Ltd
· Mr. Guo Xiangyang, Chairman, Shenzhen SAMPO KINGDOM Household Co., Ltd., China
· Mr. Huang Yiming, General Manager, Zhejiang Great Luck Trading Co, Ltd., China
· Mr. Carl Lu, Chairman of the Board, A&W (Shanghai) Woods Co., Ltd.

10:10-11:00

Session II：Challenges and Business Opportunities Brought by Global Forest Sustainability
Moderator: Mr. Bruno Guay, Advisor, Private Sector Engagement and Carbon Finance, Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI)

Keynote Speech:
The "Golden" Opportunity of Forest Sustainability
· Mr. She Xuebin, Chairman, Nature Home (China) Co. Ltd & Nature Forestry Group Co., Ltd.

Panel Discussion:
· Ms. Tullia Baldassarri, Communications Leader, Interholco, Switzerland
· Dr. Wen Wu, Professor, Zhejiang University (ZIBS), China
· Mr. Zhou Zhenyang, Chairman, Foshan Furniture Association
· Mr. Gao Yuming, Chairman, Putian Commercial Association in Zhangjiagang
· Mr. Li Junhong, President, Doors Association of Guangdong

11:10-11:50

Session III: Supply Chain Finance Innovation Protecting the Sustainable Future of Forestry
Moderator: Mr. Ralph Ridder, Founding Member of the Global Green Supply Chain of Forest Products (Macao) Federation

Keynote Speech:
Supply Chain Finance Empowering Forest Sustainability
· Dr. Luo Xinjian, Secretary General, Global Green Supply Chains Initiative (GGSC)

Panel Discussion:
· Mr. Jean-Marie Ntoutoume, General Delegate , Union of Foresters and wood industries of Gabon (UFIGA)
· Mr. Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy, Programmme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) International
· Ms. Xi Jingjing, Deputy General Manager, Macao Branch of Bank of Communication
· Mr. Yu Huailin, Vice President, GEMERGEN Technology Group Co., LTD
· Mr. Peng Yanqing, Secretary-General, Puyang Modern Houseware Industry Alliance, China

11:50-12:00

Achievements Release
· The Green Finance and Green Supply Chains (GF&GS) Integration Action Plan-Supporting Organization
· Closed-Door Meeting of GF4GS Demonstration Industrial Park in Congo Basin (depending on the situation)
· Awards Ceremony

Note: Onsite arrangement of agenda may subject to change.