Blog

UK, ASEAN Cooperate in Sustainable Infrastructure

The UK, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the Lead Implementing Body for Sustainable Infrastructure (LIB-SI), held a conference on 30 March to discuss sustainable leadership in infrastructure planning and procurement. 

The UK-ASEAN Sustainable Leadership in Infrastructure Conference, held online and in-person in Singapore, was attended by more than 200 participants, including officials and representatives from ASEAN Member States, the United Kingdom, as well as other external partners and the private sector.

The conference unveiled the upcoming ASEAN Sustainable Leadership in Infrastructure Programme (ASLIP), a modular course for ASEAN officials with a focus on pre-procurement and upstream infrastructure planning. The conference also facilitated discussions on public-private sector collaboration in sustainable infrastructure, as well as key issues on strategies and considerations in building sustainability towards net zero, urbanisation, and inclusivity and social impacts.

Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, UK’s Minister for Asia and Middle East, Amanda Milling, and Cambodia’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport Director General, Chhieng Pich, delivered opening remarks at the conference.

“The UK’s support through ASLIP is timely as LIB-SI is working on capacity building activities to support ASEAN in promoting recovery and building resilience through sustainable infrastructure,” ASEAN said in a statement.

ASEAN’s Secretary-General Dato Lim noted:

“ASEAN continues to focus on enhancing connectivity and promoting sustainable infrastructure to make the region more competitive, accessible, and liveable. Achieving these goals requires us to strengthen the enabling environment for sustainable infrastructure, improve project preparation, and tap into different sources of funding, considering the unique context of each Member State.”