[AFMM] A hopeful start to council discussions: Why It Matters to Myanmar

DVB Myanmar
Jun 16, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Delegates in the AFMM in discussion on the question of attracting private investment for green

The AFMM began discussion on The Question of Attracting Private Investment for

Green Economies, with strong discourse over attracting private investment for green

economies.

The question of green investments

At 11.00am this morning, the ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting convened a

body of national representatives, hailing from not just ASEAN states but nations

like the United Kingdom, Russia, and South Korea.

Nations began discussion on the topic on The Question of Attracting Private

Investment for Green Economies, with many countries expressing great concern

towards the repercussions of climate change as well as the lack of sufficient

funding and investments for green economies.

Less-developed countries such as Papua New Guinea also called for increased

investment from other nations to “streamline the adoption of green standards”.

In agreement to this, the Delegate of India emphasised the need to “mobilise

accountability frameworks” to attract “sovereign green bonds and foreign private

partnerships”.

The beginning of hope

These calls for increased support were not left unanswered.

Spoken by the Delegate of Japan, “Japan stands ready to offer its expertise and

cooperation to help ASEAN’s future development.” Similarly, South Korea

professed itself “a committed partner to the global green transition”.

Timor-Leste, a new addition to ASEAN, expresses great hope and optimism

towards the future, marking itself to be a “bridge between countries, towards

greater foreign investments”.

The United States suggested the adoption of an infrastructure investment model

similar to the Fannie Mae System, which is a house mortgage purchasing system

that provides liquidity to the housing market.

Unsure as to how this system would be applicable in the context of green

economies, DVB Myanmar will conduct further interviews with the Delegate of

the United States.

Russia proposed the issuance of contracts to less-developed economies for

Russian firms to “lead” the energy transition through “a grounded technocratic

pathway”, assisting nuclear energy, liquified natural gas, and

hydrogen fuel.

What to expect from this week’s discussions

A DVB editor stationed to oversee AFMM discussions notes down the agenda for the council, outlined inthe diagram above. (Photo: Tham Harkman, DVB Myanmar)

Of note to readers concerned with the future of Myanmar as a free state would

be Agenda Point Number One: Attracting and Distributing Green Investment.

Myanmar is in desperate need of foreign aid.

The recent Sagaing earthquake in Myanmar has been estimated by the USGS

The Earthquake Hazards Program has caused 10,000 and 100,000 fatalities, with

The economic impact is possibly reaching 70% of Myanmar's GDP.

Even in the face of calamity, Myanmar’s military regime remains uncooperative

With international aid efforts.

DVB Myanmar cannot ascertain an exact figure for casualty and injury

rates because its correspondents have been barred from entry into risk sites.

In an act condemned by the international community, the junta took down

internet access in areas affected by the earthquake to disrupt anti-regime forces.

The Myanmar Internet Project noted that since 2021, there were 357 recorded

instances of weaponised internet shutdowns. In an article published by ABC, foreign correspondents noted that the MAH regime was stockpiling military supplies meant for immediate distribution. Meredith Bunn, a coordinator of humanitarian aid in Myanmar, told the ABC that "There are multiple witnesses and photographs ... some aid is being left to spoil as it is in a space with no consistent temperature control... I think the aid is being

kept for the election campaign". Such actions taken by Min Aung Hliang and his administration have further hampered humanitarian efforts gravely, with tight censorship on the severity of the damage in Myanmar itself.

The AFMM must ask the difficult questions

As noted by the United Kingdom, “it does not matter if governments issue green

bonds... if ASEAN does not settle the accountable and transparent use of funds”.

Indeed, investor confidence in nations such as Myanmar has been greatly hit

Due to a lack of political stability, concrete investment fund allocation

mechanisms, or both.

If governments are non-cooperative with humanitarian efforts, how will nations

In good faith, they agree to contribute their technical expertise and investment in

green resilience?

As debate progresses over the next few days, the people of Myanmar and the

The rest of the world awaits the AFMM’s answer.

Written by Tham Harkman, Chen Chak Kai, and Aaron Tan Rui Ze