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The SDSN, TPC, and NO.17 Foundation Expand Strategic Partnership to Advance Sustainable Development Across Asia

By GBA-ASEAN Initiative, Climate and Energy, SDG Academy

July 27, 2026 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) — The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has expanded its strategic partnership with TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) and the NO.17 Foundation through a new two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), deepening their shared commitment to mobilize private capital and leadership to accelerate sustainable development and the energy transition across Southeast Asia.

The MoU marks a significant milestone, highlighting the organizations’ shared ambition to scale impact and deepen regional collaboration. The agreement builds on the successful partnership established through the GBA–ASEAN Initiative (GAI) and significantly broadens the scope of collaboration across multiple SDSN programs. The expanded partnership will support the development of knowledge products for private capital and energy project managers, educational platforms for private sector leadership, and regional implementation initiatives, creating new opportunities to translate knowledge into practical action. The collaboration will also further the joint vision of empowering entrepreneurs, family businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, policymakers, and academic institutions to develop practical, scalable solutions that promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth across Asia.

The announcement follows the SDSN delegation’s meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore on the energy transition agenda for ASEAN, alongside a week of high-level engagement in Kuala Lumpur. Among the engagements was the 2026 GBA–ASEAN Conference, which featured a special address by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as a public dialogue with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs and Chavalit Frederick Tsao on the role of ethics, systems thinking, and collective action in advancing sustainable development.

About the SDSN

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) works under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to mobilize universities, think tanks, and research centers to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Established in 2012 by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and economist Jeffrey Sachs, the SDSN promotes evidence-based solutions, policy analysis, education, and global cooperation at the intersection of science, policy, and practice.

About Tsao Pao Chee

TPC (Tsao Pao Chee) is a fourth-generation purpose-led profit family business with a mission “To serve the well-being of Life and create wealth at the same time."

About the NO.17 Foundation

The NO.17 Foundation is the corporate philanthropy arm of TPC, inspired by Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The Foundation works to convene mission-aligned partners across business, philanthropy, academia, and civil society to advance systems change through collaboration, trust-based partnerships, and initiatives that promote sustainable development and a flourishing future for people and the planet.

Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs (left) and Chavalit Frederick Tsao (right) sign the MOU expanding the strategic partnership between the SDSN, TPC, and the NO.17 Foundation.
Back row (left to right): Tai Sook Yee, Lisa Sachs, Sonia Sachs, Philo Wang, Loh Niap Juan. Front row (left to right): Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Chavalit Frederick Tsao.
Chavalit Frederick Tsao, Chairman of TPC and Founder of the NO.17 Foundation, speaks during the 2026 GBA–ASEAN Conference on Energy Transition and Integration.
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Chavalit Frederick Tsao, and Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim with fellow leaders during the 2026 GBA–ASEAN Conference on Energy Transition and Integration in Kuala Lumpur.