China’s State Council (Cabinet) has directed its local governments to buy more energy-efficient, eco-friendly and energy-saving products in its public purchases. This latest directive is pursuant to the stricter implementation of China’s ‘Government Purchase Law’ which contains a compulsory green procurement list comprising nine types ofproducts – air conditioners, fluorescent lamps, televisions, electric water heaters, computers, printers, computer monitors, urinals and toilet pans and water nozzles. China has targeted local authorities as a prime mover to achieve the nation’s overall objective of ‘cleaner’ economic growth: - local authorities, by virtue of their relatively larger spending power, have the capacity to implement utilization and supply of green products to their projects and programmes to help reduce any negative environmental impact; - environmentally improved products are often niche products and increased demand by local authorities will help...

The National Green Technology Policy was announced by YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak Prime Minister of Malaysia on 24 July 2009 encompasing economic, environment and social policies. Among the goals of the National Green Technology Policy are to increase the production of local Green Technology products and the expansion of SMEs and SMIs businesses exports of Green Technology to the global market. Developed countries are now keen to engage with companies/organisations which are more environmentally responsible to its stakeholders. Malaysian industries are encouraged to adapt a green environment approach in their businesses, by moving towards low carbon technology. Potential benefits for businesses from adoption of the green policy include: • enhanced local industry’s competitiveness in the global market; and • increased ability to attract foreign investors and growth of exports through enhanced consumer confidence. Consumers have become increasingly conscious not...