ASEAN members discuss infrastructure projects
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Delegations from 10 ASEAN member states attend the third ASEAN Connectivity Forum held at the Convention Center of the Federation of Korean Industries on Oct. 22. / Courtesy of the ASEAN-Korea Centre
By Rachel Lee
The ASEAN-Korea Centre hosted the third ASEAN Connectivity Forum to introduce the region’s infrastructure projects in Korea.
Under the banner of the “ASEAN-Korea Partnership for ASEAN Economic Community Building,” delegations from 10 member states shared such projects and policy directions in areas including transport, energy and information and communications technology at the Convention Center of the Federation of Korean Industries on Oct. 22.
Hasnudin Hamzah, chairman of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee, Cho Tae-yul, second vice foreign minister, and Lee Seung-cheol, vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, also attended.
“I hope that the forum becomes a venue whereby Korean companies and ASEAN member states’ governments find common ground, forge meaningful partnerships, and explore tangible means that will both support the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and find windows for great opportunities for Korean companies,” said ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Young-sun.
The forum consisted of two sessions under the topics “Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity — current status and challenges” and “Financial Solutions for ASEAN Connectivity.” Experts from institutions including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and Korea Eximbank discussed the issues.
According to the ASEAN-Korea Centre, global consulting company McKinsey estimates that $3.3 trillion in investments will be required in transport, water, energy and ICT in ASEAN countries between now and 2030.