Kota Kinabalu: The inaugural Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 (Sabah Aims 2026) will be held here on July 13–14, bringing together regional and international leaders to explore how impact investing can drive sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region.
It is jointly organised by the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (Kepkas) and George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies (Gioas) at Wawasan Open University, with Community Empowerment Initiative Sabah as the local organising partner, WWF-Malaysia and The Habitat Foundation as knowledge partners and Daily Express as media partner.
The summit aims to position Sabah as a regional hub and living laboratory for innovation and collaboration in impact investing, serving as a gateway for global capital into the Asia-Pacific sustainable development ecosystem.
Using the theme “Turn, Learn, Earn”, the summit draws inspiration from Sabah’s ancient fern ecosystems, which have survived and evolved for more than 360 million years.
The symbol reflects resilience, adaptability, regeneration and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities through knowledge, collaboration and sustainable enterprise.
Sabah Aims 2026 will bring together leaders from investment, philanthropy, academia, policymaking, civil society, conservation and industry to examine practical pathways for mobilising capital towards high-impact social and environmental initiatives.
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Sabah is uniquely positioned as a living laboratory for sustainable development. Renowned globally for its biodiversity, ancient rainforests, marine ecosystems and Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, Sabah also faces important socioeconomic challenges, particularly in underserved rural communities.
The summit seeks to address these realities through the lens of impact investing, a blended approach that combines financial sustainability with measurable social and environmental outcomes.
Discussions will explore innovative financing mechanisms including sustainable bonds and sukuk, venture equity, blended finance structures and risk-sharing models supported by governments and multilateral institutions.
Sabah Aims 2026 also builds upon regional thought leadership initiatives, including Gioas’ international conference in Bhutan on operationalising Gross National Happiness, which explored alternative development models centred on human wellbeing, environmental sustainability and high-end tourism.
Speaking on the significance of the summit, Kepkas Permanent Secretary Datuk Josie Lai Sabah possesses extraordinary natural and cultural assets, and this summit reflects Sabah’s aspiration to become not only a destination for tourism and biodiversity conservation, but also a regional hub for innovative ideas, partnerships and investments that support inclusive and sustainable development.
“Sabah Aims 2026 provides an important regional platform to bring together investors, policymakers, academics, conservationists and community leaders to explore how sustainable finance and impact investing can create meaningful and lasting benefits for both people and the environment.”
Gioas Chairman Tan Sri Andrew Sheng said the summit comes at a critical time when the region must rethink conventional development and investment models.
“The world today faces unprecedented challenges from geopolitics, climate change, social imbalances and environmental degradation. We need new thinking and new models to overcome these systemic issues.
Because Sabah is at the heart of East Asia and Southeast Asia, we want to apply impact investing to mobilise capital to generate both new income, jobs and protect Sabah’s unique cultural and biodiversity.
We believe that practical ideas with projects that protect our marine reefs, forests, enhance ecotourism and generate new sources of income are vital for Sabah’s continued prosperity.”
Organising Chairperson Lim Hock Song said Sabah Aims 2026 is envisioned not merely as a conference, but as a long term platform to foster meaningful collaboration and practical partnerships for sustainable development and impact investing across the Asia-Pacific region.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor will officiate the opening of the summit, with keynote address by Securities Commission Malaysia Executive Chairman Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi.
Dr R Balasubramaniam, well renowned social reformer and newly elected member of NITI Ayog, India’s transformation commission, will also deliver keynote address on digital public infrastructure and sustainable development.
