HANOI, VIETNAM (January 30, 2026) – The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), in collaboration with the Japan Economic Research Institute (JERI), has successfully concluded a strategic technical mission in Hanoi, marking a significant step toward financing proactive disaster resilience in the region.
Running from January 27 to January 30, the mission was led by ADFIAP Secretary General Mr. Enrique Florencio, with Mr. John Alianza, Head of Business Development & Partnerships, and Mr. Ralph Balmaceda, Senior Consultant, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation for the Asia-Pacific region. The delegation’s primary objective was to shift the regional narrative from post-disaster recovery to “proactive resilience investment” by identifying the decision-making frameworks and data needed to make adaptation projects bankable.
Bridging Finance and Policy
A centerpiece of the mission was the “VDB Deep Dive,” during which the delegation engaged directly with the Vietnam Development Bank (VDB) to address the “decision logic” behind climate-resilient infrastructure.
On Wednesday, January 28, the team met with Mr. Nguyen Hoang Trung, Director of the Foreign Loan Department at VDB. Led by Senior Consultant Mr. Ralph Balmaceda, the session focused on identifying data gaps that currently hinder financing of adaptation projects. The day concluded with a technical consultation with Mr. Alberto Bertocco, Area Manager of CAE S.p.A., on infrastructure monitoring solutions.
Building a Technology Ecosystem
Recognizing that finance cannot operate in a vacuum, the mission dedicated Thursday, January 29, to expanding the “resilience ecosystem” through engagements with leading technology providers.
The delegation held a series of meetings to explore Early Warning Systems and hydrological technologies, including:
• An in-person discussion with Ms. Rozila Ramli, Regional Sales Manager at OTT Hydromet.
• An online consultation with Mr. Chin Van Phu of WATEC.
• A meeting with Mr. Guido Vaes, Director of Innovations at Hydroscan.
These engagements aligned with the mission’s goal of integrating technical solutions from partners—such as those dealing with Early Warning Systems—into financial frameworks.
Strengthening Science and Academia
The mission concluded on Friday, January 30, with a strong focus on policy, science, and academia.
The delegation met with Dr. Le Ngoc Cau, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change (IMHEN), to discuss the intersection of climate science and policy. This was followed by an academic exchange with Dr. Le Quang Tuan, Deputy Director of Thuy Loi University, which reinforced the role of academic research in developing market-ready resilience solutions.
The final consultation was held with Mr. Khanh Pham Doan, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, thereby solidifying government alignment with the project’s objectives.
Proceeding to Indonesia
Following the successful conclusion of engagements in Hanoi, the delegation is immediately traveling to Jakarta, Indonesia, to continue this strategic mission.
The team will replicate this high-level engagement model in Indonesia to collect comparative data and best practices. Insights from both Vietnam and Indonesia will form the core of the upcoming APEC Report, scheduled for June 2026, which aims to create a robust market for pre-disaster solutions across the Asia-Pacific.