Open Development Mekong publishes a new page on SDG9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure
ASEAN is aware that infrastructure development requires regional cooperation as well as national implementation. The subregion has been working to support such cooperation. The first version of ASEAN’s Master Plan on Connectivity suffered from a lack of funding, so the current plan emphasizes the need to enhance resource mobilisation. China and ASEAN recently issued a joint statement on aligning China’s One Belt One Road Initiative with ASEAN’s MPC. However, China’s previous development in the region has been controversial, not least because of the substantial, non-concessionary loans being provided to develop the Mekong nations and questions about whether the benefits from the projects will actually reach ordinary people. Additional support is being provided to the LMCs and China by the Asian Development Bank through the Greater Mekong Subregion Program, which focuses on areas including ICT, energy, transport and trade.
