BANGKOK, 20 October 2026 – Prudential plc, the leading insurer and institutional investor in Asia and Africa, has called for stronger collaboration across the public and private sectors to unlock long-term capital for Asia's energy transition, highlighting the importance of investable infrastructure, effective risk-sharing mechanisms and climate resilience in supporting sustainable economic growth. These themes were highlighted by Diana Guzmán, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Prudential plc, during the 2026 Institute of International Finance (IIF) Annual Membership Meeting in Bangkok.
Speaking at the 2026 IIF Annual Membership Meeting in Bangkok last week, Diana Guzmán, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Prudential plc, outlined how energy access, affordability and security is reshaping the region's transition agenda and creating new opportunities for long-term investment in resilient infrastructure.
The central challenge, she noted, is not simply the availability of capital. It is the need to create commercially viable, well-structured projects that can attract institutional investment at scale.
“The question is no longer whether countries should choose between security, affordability and decarbonisation. It is how we create commercially viable investment opportunities that can deliver all three, while reflecting the realities and development priorities of individual markets,” she said.
Asia is at the centre of the global energy transition. The region accounted for 90 per cent of global electricity demand growth between 2016 and 2023, while China, India and Southeast Asia are projected to contribute 85 per cent of global electricity demand growth between 2025 and 2027.
Asia’s energy surge is exposing a critical protection gap. In 2025, the region accounted for around 30 per cent of global economic losses from natural catastrophes, yet only about 5 per cent of insured losses. Closing this gap demands expanding insurance protection and investments in resilient infrastructure and climate adaptation.
At the IIF Roundtable on Financing Adaptation and Resilience, Steven Chan, Group Chief Government Relations and Policy Officer, called for stronger partnerships across the public and private sectors, better risk-sharing mechanisms, improved data and analytics, and enabling policy and regulatory frameworks to accelerate the transition.
Prudential is turning ambition into action. Through its Financing the Transition framework, the Group aims to commit US$6 billion in transition financing by 2030, and has already committed US$1.5 billion since 2024. The framework includes investments in climate mitigation, adaptation and nature-related solutions across areas such as resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, climate technologies, water management, agricultural adaptation, health adaptation and ecosystem-based adaptation.
As both a life insurer and long-term investor, Prudential brings more than capital. Its long-duration liabilities align with infrastructure investment horizons, while its risk expertise and insurance solutions can strengthen project bankability and unlock institutional investment at scale.
Accelerating Asia’s energy transition now hinges on three imperatives: a stronger pipeline of investment-ready projects, sharper transaction-level risk data, and wider use of guarantees, political-risk insurance and blended finance. Decisive public-private action can unlock capital—and deliver greater energy security, climate resilience and sustainable growth.
