| James Kon |
MINISTER of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar joined ministers and representatives responsible for infrastructure from ASEAN member countries at the 1st ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Infrastructure Ministers’ Meeting in Seoul on September 17.
Under the theme ‘Infrastructure Development and Public Land-Use’ and ‘Sustainable Smart City and Infrastructure’, the meeting hoped to enhance cooperation in the field of infrastructure.
During the meeting, ASEAN ministers noted that efficient land use and systematic approach to infrastructure development are essential to achieving common prosperity through stronger connectivity in the Southeast Asian region.
The ministers also recognised the need to improve the quality of living in cities in response to rapid urbanisation under way in ASEAN, and make urban development sustainable.
To this end, they approved of pursuing policy cooperation in the field of Smart Cities to integrate technological progress in green energy, environment and ICT.
The ministers also approved of joint endeavours to develop and spread smart infrastructure technologies related to transport and water resources among others, given the positive impact of such technologies on infrastructure connectivity and the creation of the ASEAN Community.
They also supported the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 (MPAC 2025), particularly in the area of sustainable infrastructure; and the initiatives to exchange policies and experiences on land use, city and housing, while exploring new management methods in these areas with the application of national land information to ensure efficient land use and a systematic approach to infrastructure development.
In order to seek cooperation that is both pragmatic and substantive, 20 ‘Key Cooperation Agenda’ have been identified to support efforts in discovering and implementing projects for these areas. At the same time, existing platforms would be utilised to promote cooperation in the field of infrastructure, to facilitate exchanges between the Republic of Korea and ASEAN member states at all levels of government and across sectors.
The ASEAN ministers also noted various initiatives, actions and development plans of each nation’s infrastructure and Smart Cities, in addition to cooperative measures between ASEAN-ROK.
Later, the ministers supported and adopted the Ministerial Declaration of the 1st ASEAN-ROK Infrastructure Ministers’ Meeting, while welcoming the opportunity for cooperation in Smart Cities and Advanced Public Transportation systems.
In support of realising the ‘ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Vision’ and developing and strengthening cooperation ties between and among ASEAN member countries and the Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam also shared its plans for building and managing infrastructure towards a more sustainable and integrated approach, taking lessons learned from experience partners and expertise.
Prior to the opening ceremony of the meeting, each ASEAN member country held a bilateral meeting with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Republic of Korea Kim Hyun-mee.
Brunei Darussalam was represented by Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar; Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development (MoD) Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak; Commisioner of Town and Country Planning Haji Shahrom bin Haji Suhaimi and Mohammad Zulaine bin Haji Zahiri, an engineer at the MoD.
The discussions referred to further collaborations in the strengthening of partnerships and building a closer network for more practical and concrete cooperation, especially in initiatives for the exchange of policies and experiences in relevant areas that include building capacity programmes in the area of sustainable infrastructure under the four cooperation areas of transport, energy, water resources and Smart IT to increase connectivity in the ASEAN region.