Ma Jun Advocates Green Finance Standards in ASEAN
The former People's Bank of China official is promoting unified sustainable finance standards across ASEAN to bolster regional growth.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Finance — General
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Ma Jun, a former official at the People's Bank of China, is calling for shared green finance standards across the ASEAN region to better address economic risks. This initiative aims to bridge gaps in sustainable investment that currently exclude many small and medium-sized enterprises.
Why it matters
Climate change is significantly reshaping economic competitiveness, yet small and medium-sized enterprises remain largely excluded from green finance despite their essential role in global supply chains. Implementing unified standards aims to better integrate these businesses into the sustainable economy.
SCB has mobilized 300 billion baht in sustainable finance since 2023, while setting a new target to reach 500 billion baht by 2030. Additionally, the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment has developed 100 modules to train 10,000 professionals.
The players
Ma Jun
He is a former official at the People's Bank of China who now focuses on green finance initiatives and sustainability standards.
SCB
This is a major Thai financial institution currently scaling its sustainable finance operations and mobilization targets.
Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment
This organization develops training modules and educational resources to increase professional expertise in green finance.
Industrial Bank
A Chinese financial institution that has implemented large-scale green finance training programs for its employees.
The details
Ma Jun launched the Green Accelerator to facilitate links between philanthropic capital and emerging green technologies. Meanwhile, institutions like China's Industrial Bank are scaling green finance literacy by expanding training programs from specialist units to their general workforce.
Timeline
SCB began tracking its sustainable finance mobilization in 2023.
The period for the initial 300 billion baht in financing ended in June 2026.
This report was published on October 15, 2026.
SCB aims to reach its 500 billion baht sustainable finance target by 2030.
Market Dynamics
The push for shared green finance standards follows the global trend of integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards into banking. This transition positions regional banks to better manage economic risk while aligning with international sustainability benchmarks.
For investors, the shift toward standardized green finance means potentially greater transparency and more sustainable long-term options in their portfolios. It also signals that regional banks are prioritizing climate risk, which could influence future lending policies and interest rates.
The takeaway
Unified standards can significantly lower the barrier to entry for smaller businesses looking to access sustainable capital. Investors and business owners should monitor these developments as they will likely influence regional banking practices and available credit lines through 2030.
Further reading
Learn more about global financial trends in our Finance — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Nation Thailand.
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