Canadian trade mission to Southeast Asia unlocks energy and infrastructure opportunities for GHD

Canada’s renewables energy industry and GHD have locked onto the potential to capitalise on Southeast Asia’s energy and infrastructure transition following a recent 300-person trade mission to the region led by the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC). 

With a focus on clean energy, water infrastructure, and economic collaboration, the delegation - featuring key industry leaders including GHD - played a pivotal role in identifying opportunities to support the region’s ambitious sustainability goals. 

As Indonesia and the Philippines seek to accelerate the transition from coal to transition fuels and renewable energy, both nations face significant challenges in grid modernisation, energy storage, water security, and project financing. 

GHD, a global leader in energy, water, and infrastructure consulting, was a key participant in this mission, reinforcing its commitment to supporting Southeast Asia’s sustainable development. 

During the trade mission, GHD's team, including Robert Dysiewicz and Bharat Khanna from the Canadian business, and Lucas Blight and Phil Baker representing GHD’s operations in Southeast Asia, engaged in high-level meetings with government organisations, businesses, and Canadian government officials based in Jakarta and the Philippines. These meetings focused on relationship building, knowledge acquisition, and exploring opportunities for collaboration in sustainable development projects. 

Bharat Khanna, Executive Adviser – Technology and Partnerships, based in Canada, highlighted the crucial role of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) in facilitating international business opportunities.

"I've worked with the CCC before in a previous role, and their mandate is to help Canadian companies expand exports through their Trade Commissions around the world. They achieve this by generating more business through government-to-government (G2G) agreements," Khanna explained.

One of the key advantages for Canadian companies working with the CCC is the ability to secure business opportunities without having to compete through traditional request-for-proposal (RFP) processes. "For various categories, Canadian companies can win contracts without competing or answering RFPs," he noted.

Khanna and Rob Dysiewicz participated in the trade mission which focused on expanding business opportunities beyond their current markets, with a particular emphasis on Indonesia.

"The objective of this trade mission was to explore business outside the markets we have been operating in, and Rob and I concentrated on the Indonesian market with the CCC," he said.

During the mission, the CCC facilitated valuable meetings with key government enterprises, including PLN, Indonesia's state-owned electricity production and distribution company, and MIND ID, the state-owned mining industry holding company. One of the most promising opportunities emerged from discussions with Tirta Mayang Jambi City Water Utility.

"One of the early potential opportunities came from a meeting with the Managing Director of Tirta Mayang Jambi City Water Utility, which has 100,000 meters that need to be replaced with AMI 2.0," Khanna shared.

Progress on this opportunity has been swift. "This one is happening quickly. We’re already in the process of putting together a proposal for a feasibility study, which will be submitted through the CCC to Jambi City," he said.

"Once finalised, we’ll be signing a contract with the CCC, which will then establish a G2G deal with Jambi City. This approach lowers the risk for everyone involved."

Reflecting on the mission's success, Khanna emphasised the strong connections made during the visit and the ongoing discussions that have followed.

"The overall outcome of the mission is that we made a lot of great interactions, and many follow-up meetings are happening through the CCC," he said.

The trade mission, supported by the Government of Canada, aligns with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which prioritises sustainable infrastructure investment and stronger economic ties with emerging markets.  

With Indonesia targeting 75 GW of renewable energy by 2050 and the Philippines rapidly expanding its offshore wind and solar capacity, Canadian companies like GHD are uniquely positioned to provide expertise in clean energy transition, environmental stewardship, and integrated infrastructure solutions. 

“The Indo-Pacific is an exciting and fast-growing region, but transitioning to clean energy isn’t a simple process,” said Robert Dysiewicz, GHD’s Commercial Innovation Leader – Future Energy, based in Canada.  

“Indonesia and the Philippines have set ambitious renewable energy targets, yet they need the right mix of technical expertise, regulatory clarity, and financing models to execute these projects effectively. Canada, through its trade partnerships and technical leadership, has an incredible opportunity to support this transition.” 
    
During high-level meetings with Indonesian and Filipino energy and water companies, GHD identified several strategic areas where its expertise can deliver impact: 

1. The water-energy Nexus: a critical intersection 

In Jakarta, discussions with industry leaders emphasised the pressing need to integrate water security with energy transition. With rapid industrialisation increasing demand for both resources, sustainable water management is essential for supporting large-scale renewable energy projects, including hydropower and green hydrogen production. 

“There’s a growing recognition that you can’t separate water management from energy transition,” said Dysiewicz.  

“Investing in desalination, wastewater-to-energy solutions, and smart water infrastructure will be key to ensuring both water and energy security in Indonesia and the Philippines. This is an area where GHD has deep expertise, and we’re eager to contribute solutions that create long-term sustainability.” 

2. Renewable energy deployment and grid modernisation 

Both Indonesia and the Philippines have set aggressive clean energy targets but face significant grid stability challenges. Key priorities include: 

a) Expanding battery energy storage systems (BESS) to address intermittency in solar and wind power generation. 

b) Advancing microgrid solutions for islands and remote areas, integrating solar, wind, and battery storage. 

c) Upgrading transmission and distribution networks to support large-scale renewable integration. 

GHD’s experience in energy system resilience, combined with Canadian financing mechanisms through CCC, provides a strong foundation for accelerating renewable energy deployment in the region. 

3. Hydropower and floating solar: unlocking Southeast Asia’s natural advantages 

Land constraints in both countries have driven strong interest in floating solar installations on reservoirs and hydropower impoundments, and hybrid renewable projects combining wind, solar, and storage. Additionally, Indonesia is exploring pumped hydro storage as a dispatchable renewable energy source. GHD’s hydropower and floating solar expertise positions it as a valuable partner in these developments.       

The Canadian Commercial Corporation’s role in de-risking investments through government-backed financing was a key discussion point throughout the mission. With large-scale infrastructure projects requiring significant upfront capital, CCC’s ability to facilitate financing through Export Development Canada (EDC) and international lenders makes Canadian firms attractive partners. 

“We see a real need for innovative financing models to unlock these projects,” added Dysiewicz.  

“Through the CCC, Canada can provide not just technical expertise, but also financial solutions that make these projects bankable. That’s a game-changer for accelerating clean energy development.” 

Following the success of this trade mission, GHD is looking to deepen its engagement in the region by: 

1) Expanding its Southeast Asia presence to support local execution of energy and infrastructure projects. 

2) Developing partnerships with Indonesian and Filipino engineering firms to enhance project delivery capabilities. 

3) Collaborating with international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to secure funding for renewable energy initiatives. 

GHD’s participation in the trade mission underscores its commitment to playing a key role in Southeast Asia’s energy and infrastructure transformation. By leveraging Canada’s technical expertise, financing mechanisms, and collaborative approach, Canadian firms are well-positioned to drive meaningful change in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.