On 10 January 2025, GIZ participated in a meeting to explore approaches for enhancing and supporting the operations of the ThaiCI Fund. Organised by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) in collaboration with the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), the meeting was attended by more than 40 participants, including representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the National Innovation Agency (Public Organisation), and various financial institutions.

The meeting aimed to raise awareness and foster an understanding of the ThaiCI Fund, which serves as a climate finance mechanism for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Fund supports SMEs in transforming their business and production processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition towards a low-carbon society.

A key topic of discussion focused on the role of financial institutions in further supporting SMEs to adopt low-carbon production and business practices. This includes offering green financial services and products, such as green loans for clean energy projects, electric vehicles, or green industrial initiatives, long-term loans for developing green supply chains, credit guarantees for small businesses, and sustainability-linked loans.

The meeting emphasised the financial sector’s potential to be a crucial partner of the ThaiCI Fund in complementing government support, improving SMEs’ access to funding, and promoting long-term environmentally sustainable business practices. Furthermore, the discussion highlighted the integration of efforts among various agencies, with the ThaiCI Fund serving as a bridge between the public and private sectors to advance GHG reduction initiatives and promote green businesses in Thailand. This collaboration not only strengthens the competitiveness of Thai enterprises but also drives progress toward the country’s GHG reduction targets.