Asian philanthropists, social investors convene at conference in Bangkok

In partnership with the Khonthai Foundation, the event has attracted more than 600 social investors from around the world, all committed to building the social-sector ecosystem in Asia. The three-day conference officially launched on Wednesday with an inaugural address from former prime minister Anand Panyarachun.
The AVPN Conference brings together representatives from more than 30 countries representing social investors across a diverse range of perspectives: international foundations such as the Rockefeller and Sasakawa Peace Foundation, local family offices and companies involved in philanthropy and impact investing, international corporates including Coca-Cola, Google and Credit Suisse, and government agencies such as the US Agency for International Development and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The more than 100 speakers contributing to the three-day conference include thought leaders, innovators and practitioners from across the region. 
Dr Somkiat Tangkitvanich, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute, will share insights on social investment in Thailand, and Dr Bandid Nijathaworn, president and chief executive of the Thai Institute of Directors, will discuss “Examples of Collaborative Platforms for Social Investments in Thailand”.
The conference focuses on collaboration across social, corporate and government sectors touching on key social challenges faced by Asia. Helping to contextualise the discussions will be AVPN’s release of its latest research: “The Social Investment Landscape in Asia”. 
This is a holistic study of the current Asian philanthropy and social-investment market across 14 regions including Thailand. The report offers an overview of the societal needs across Asia, using the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to map out key areas of focus where social investors can have the most impact.
The report highlights the diversity of economic growth in Asia and how this affects the areas where social investors can be most effective. 
For instance, while emerging economies such as India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam have to address pressing social challenges in healthcare, sanitation, education and water, developed economies such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong tackle ageing, growing inequalities, a declining workforce, labour productivity and gender equality. 
The report also highlights the need across the entire region to address environmental issues from energy access and infrastructure in emerging economies, to climate-risk mitigation and natural-resources management in the island countries of Asia.