ThomasLloyd Cleantech Congress 2014: High Profile Speakers Discuss Expansion of and Investment in Renewable Energy

ZURICH, February 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The speakers at this year's ThomasLloyd Cleantech Congress Europe 2014 discussed Asia's remarkable economic growth and the increasing need for renewable energy in the region. More than 3,000 guests from the world of politics, business and the financial community both in Germany and the rest of the world followed keynote speeches, talks and discussions about investment in Asian renewable energy infrastructure projects at the Forum in Frankfurt's exhibition centre, and by live-stream.

President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote address from the United States via live satellite link. In addition, there were numerous renowned international personalities speaking at the conference. These included Professor Justin Yifu Lin, former Chief Economist and Vice President of the World Bank, Hon. Loren Legarda, Senator for the Republic of the Philippines, Hon. Edgardo J. Angara, 16th president of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, and Professor Peter Guthrie, global expert in sustainable infrastructure development and professor at the University of Cambridge. Guest speaker Her Excellency Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, the Republic of the Philippines' ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, welcomed delegates on behalf of this year's partner-nation, the Republic of the Philippines.

Delegates and speakers agreed that the global demand for energy would continue to rise over the coming years, as a result of population growth, rising income and continued industrialisation. Guest speakers from the Philippines stressed the importance of this to their country. As an archipelago state, it is confronted on the one hand by an above-average annual economic growth of around seven percent, and on the other hand steadily rising energy demand, with rising costs of transmission. The ability to supply locally generated energy is a key requirement for continued economic growth. Sustainable energy is an important part of the future energy mix of the country.

Hon. Edgardo J. Angara, 16th President of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, highlighted the significance of investment in renewable energy in his home country and its role in creating jobs. Future energy needs, he said, would be immense. Angara estimates the Philippines' long-term potential in this field to lie somewhere between 150 and 250 gigawatts, the majority of which they aim to obtain from renewable sources.

The Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, Hon. Loren Legarda, spoke about the critical importance of increasing investment in renewable energy in nations that are especially subject to climate change, such as the Philippines. Climate change, she explained, has a massive effect on economic growth, food security and the health of people in Asia. The Philippine government aims to build up climate-friendly energy sources in the country steadily, explained Legarda. According to a government resolution, the nation's green energy capacity will be expanded from today's 5,400 megawatts to 15,500 megawatts by the year 2030. The Senator called on delegates to invest in her home country. "The Philippines is the best place to invest since the country has stable laws and can support investments through its people, its government and its policies. On top of that there is its young, well-educated and ambitious population. Investments will be visible long-term and will help to mitigate the intensity of future natural disasters," said Legarda.

Former Chief Economist and Vice President of the World Bank, Justin Yifu Lin, underscored Asia's positive economic development, providing the latest statistics and impressive figures. He pointed to the region's enormous need for investment. Asia, he said, would require 8.2 trillion US dollars over a period of ten years to build up its national infrastructure, while a further 320 billion US dollars would be required at a regional level. Justin Yifu Lin believes that Asia's golden age will endure. China, for instance, has the potential to grow annually by eight percent for the next 20 years, he stated.

Congress reinforces its leadership of renewable energy themes in Asia

As one of the leading asset management and project financing companies for renewable energy infrastructure in Asia, ThomasLloyd has for years used the ThomasLloyd Cleantech Congress Europe as a platform for building bridges between European investors and technology companies on the one hand and communities and governments in Asia on the other. This makes the Congress a knowledge platform and trend barometer for decision-makers in the financial sector, investors, consultants, and project developers, specialising in renewable energy infrastructure. This is the fourth time that the ThomasLloyd Group has held the event, and this year with the Republic of the Philippines as its principal partner. It was augmented for the first time by a parallel industry trade fair. An overwhelming number of Congress delegates took the opportunity to find out more about investment locations, technologies, projects and partners in the field of renewable energy infrastructure in Asia.

With this year's Congress, the ThomasLloyd Group has strengthened its leading position in the field of renewable energy infrastructure in Asia, by providing the several thousand visitors on location and via Internet live-stream with a high-quality exchange between business, science and politics. "Our ThomasLloyd Cleantech Congress sets industry-wide standards in Europe, and it builds inter-disciplinary exchange between the various stakeholders in large-infrastructure projects," explained T.U. Michael Sieg, Chairman and CEO of the ThomasLloyd Group. "That's because the sustainable energy-policy development of the Asia-Pacific region will not only play a primary role globally for current and future generations, it will also form the basis for the region's continued growth. This will make it a key aspect of the 'Asian Century'," continued Sieg.

To conclude the event, T.U. Michael Sieg and Jose Maria Zabaleta, President of Bronzeoak Philippines Inc., presented Senator Hon. Loren Legarda and the Philippine ambassador with a cheque for 100,000 US dollars to express the long-standing ties between the corporation and the Philippines. The purpose is to use this donation to build up power supplies to schools, primarily in rural areas.

About ThomasLloyd:

ThomasLloyd is a leading global investment banking and investment management group, solely dedicated to the renewable energy sector in Asia. The company portfolio includes Capital Raising, M&A and Corporate Finance for private and public companies, as well as project financing and management for project developers, and asset management, wealth management and funds for private customers and institutional investors. The company headquarters are in Zurich. ThomasLloyd employs 125 employees in 13 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia and has assets of USD 2.7 billion under management and advisory. For further information, please visit:  http://www.thomas-lloyd.com

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