Daikin Industries (Thailand) Ltd. (DIT) took part in the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-26), the ASEAN Centre for Energy’s (ACE) annual flagship forum. It was held from 5 to 9 October 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, in conjunction with the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) chaired by Philippine Secretary of Energy Sharon Garin. The forum featured more than 100 speakers, including Indonesia’s Vice Minister of Public Works, the Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Energy, the UK and Australian Ambassadors to ASEAN, the CEO of the Energy Commission of Malaysia, and senior leaders from IRENA, ADB and UN ESCAP.

Among them, Mr. Ratsak Tongim, Assistant General Manager, ASEAN-Oceania Environment Promotion Office of Daikin Industries (Thailand) Ltd. (DIT), was featured as one of the forum’s “Notable 2026 Speakers.” On 5 October, he represented Daikin on the panel “Transforming the Market for Energy-Efficient Space Cooling in ASEAN.” The session marked the launch of the Green Public Procurement (GPP) Guidelines for Energy-Efficient Air Conditioners in ASEAN, which set the highest applicable efficiency class and low-GWP refrigerants as technical specifications for government purchasing.

Fellow panelists were Mr. Patrick Aquino (Department of Energy, Philippines), Mr. Yan Vandeluxe (Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Cambodia), Ms. Julie Robles (Global Green Growth Institute) and Mr. Saikiran Kasamsetty (UNEP United for Efficiency), with Mr. Rizky Aditya Putra of ACE as moderator. Representatives from Thailand’s Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) were among the attendees.

Key messages from Mr. Ratsak

• Inverter adoption is rising, at different speeds across countries: According to CLASP, inverter models are projected to grow from around 40% of the ASEAN market in 2020 to 60-70% by 2026. Raising minimum and high energy performance standards (MEPS/HEPS) step by step on a clear timetable, backed by reliable testing and enforcement, can keep this shift going.

• Predictable public demand helps manufacturers plan: products, production and installer training, especially when buyers choose the highest applicable efficiency class and compare total lifetime cost.

• Energy savings and indoor air quality can go hand in hand: Daikin’s AC-ECP (Air Conditioning System with Excessive Cooling Protection), which controls temperature, humidity and ventilation together, demonstrated about 40% energy savings at DIT’s R&D building, as reported by CEFIA under its test conditions.

In the closing round, Mr. Ratsak proposed practical steps to accelerate ASEAN’s shift to energy-efficient cooling:

• For regulators: harmonize test methods and certification, strengthen MEPS over time and extend it to larger-capacity units, and reinforce market surveillance to keep low-efficiency products out.

• For industry and training bodies: build skills in installation, maintenance, and safe refrigerant recovery and reuse.

“For Daikin, efficient cooling should support energy security, lower operating costs and good indoor air quality,” said Mr. Ratsak. “Regional cooperation can help make these benefits available to more people across ASEAN.”