CACCI Joins APAC Green Alliance Initiative
The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with four other organizations to form an alliance
of Asia-Pacific (APAC) Trade Associations and Chambers of Commerce.
The alliance will have the common objective “to help small and medium enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region to embark on their sustainability transformation, sharing of best practices, standards
development, advisory support, recognition, and collectively striving towards a net-zero goal and be future ready for Industry 5.0”.
Aside from CACCI, the other MOU signatories include the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, the Singapore Business Federation, and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants.
The alliance intends to collaborate in the following areas:
- Green Excellence for Manufacturing (GEM) Mark for the manufacturing sector within the APAC region;
- Green Excellence for Business (GEB) Mark for non-manufacturing companies within the APAC region;
- Training of consultants to provide consultancy services for GEM and GEB Mark
- Training of assessors to provide assessment services for GEM and GEB Mark
The alliance also seeks to promote and seek recognition of the GEM Mark by national trade associations and chambers of commerce on the manufacturing sector within each Party’s country
and/or GEB Mark by national trade associations and chamber of Commerce of the non-manufacturing sector within each Party’s country.
To help achieve these objectives, the MOU signatories’ plan is to establish the APAC Green Alliance Association.
The MOU signing ceremony took place during the Manufacturing Day Summit 2024 organized by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation on January 18, 2024 in Singapore. Signing on behalf of CACCI was CACCI President Mr. Peter McMullin AM.
The Summit featured keynote speakers who shared their insights towards industry 5.0, AI, and more, and exchanged ideas on how to stay competitive and embrace emerging technologies.
CACCI was represented by President Mr. Peter McMullin and Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of the SME Development Council of CACCI.
Mr. McMullin spoke on “Fostering a Sustainable & Resilient Manufacturing Ecosystem: Strategies for Industry Collaboration & Success”.
In his remarks, Mr. McMullin cited the importance and timeliness of the APAC Green Alliance, which he cited as “an innovative response to the fragmented sustainability landscape we currently navigate. Across nations, we encounter diverse standards, regulations, and approaches to sustainability. This diversity, while reflective of local priorities and contexts, creates a significant challenge, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Unlike their larger counterparts like MNCs, local large enterprises or listed companies, SMEs often lack the resources or
expertise to adapt and thrive amid these varying sustainability demands.
Mr. McMullin said that The APAC Green Alliance, therefore, is not just timely but of paramount importance and is designed to empower SMEs on their sustainability journey.
He called on CACCI members to join “this new and exciting alliance. Our collective effort will be focused on nurturing sustainable growth among SMEs across the APAC region.” He looked forward
eagerly to the support and collaboration in this transformative endeavor for our manufacturing sector. Mr. McMullin pointed out that together, “we can lead the way in sustainable practices, setting an example not just for our region but for the global community”.
