By Rachel Lee
Policymakers from the Greater-Mekong Subregion (GMS) met their Korean counterparts in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate in the energy sector amid the increasing need for a stable supply.
Representatives from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines attended the Joint Training Program Nov. 13-17. It aimed to provide a platform for those who are taking part in the ASEAN Power Grid initiatives to enhance capacities. The ASEAN-Korea Centre and the Asia Development Bank (ADB) hosted the event.
ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Young-sun said it is imperative to develop a regional power market and enhance interconnections among the countries as ASEAN countries and China face an increasing need for a stable energy supply against a backdrop of rapid economic growth.
During the program, experts from various organizations, including the ASEAN Power Grid Consultative Committee, gave lectures on regional energy cooperation, the competitive regional power market and the regional power trade and market.
The Korea Smart Grid Institute (KSGI) spoke about the development of Korea's power market and possible collaboration between the two regions.
The ASEAN-Korea Centre and the ADB have been organizing the program annually since 2015.
"The program has enabled the ASEAN-Korea Centre, which has carried out a wide range of ASEAN-Korea partnership projects, as well as the ADB, which has expertise and experience in the ASEAN infrastructure projects including the GMS development, to create a great effect," the organization said.
During the same week, the ASEAN-Korea Centre took part in the Global Game Exhibition G-STAR in Busan, with 30 game companies from nine member states, Nov. 16-18. They showcased a selection of game products, software and hardware, to local businesses and the public.
In line with ASEAN's efforts to transform into a digitally enabled economy, as emphasized through the ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2020, the organization has been carrying out its trade and investment programs in the ICT, e-commerce, smart city, smart manufacturing and robotics sectors. The exhibition at G-STAR is the largest annual program in this segment involving the nine ASEAN countries _ Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"With the advent of Industry 4.0, it is imperative for ASEAN to foster robust productivity through innovation and technology to increase its competitive edge in the global market," Kim said. "In this regard, the ASEAN game industry is deemed one of the most promising sectors amid rapidly growing demand driven by rising smartphone penetration, improving internet infrastructure and expanding middle-class income.
"As Korea's game market is considered the most advanced in the world, this program would serve as a great platform for ASEAN and Korea to share good practices and explore possible collaborations, thus enhancing mutually beneficial partnership between the two regions."
During the exhibition, participants had an opportunity to build business networks with partners from Korea and abroad. Before the exhibition, the Workshop on ASEAN-Korea Cooperation on the Game Industry was held Nov. 14 to share the status of the game industries in the two regions. They visited the Creative Economy and Innovation Center to gain first-hand knowledge of Korea's game industry.
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