1. Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Seong-ho attended the 「9^th ASEAN Connectivity Forum*」 co-hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK) on January 18 and delivered a keynote speech on Korea’s role and contribution to ASEAN connectivity.

* Since 2013, the ASEAN-Korea Centre has been organizing the annual ASEAN Connectivity Forum to allow the Korean business community to become an active participant in the region’s development by introducing physical connectivity-related projects (Transport, Energy, and ICT).

- Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Forum was held in a hybrid format combining online and offline participation.

2. In his keynote speech, Deputy Minister Lee introduced the ROK’s engagement in ASEAN connectivity such as sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, and people mobility, emphasizing the ROK’s willingness to contribute to the enhancement of ASEAN connectivity through the synergy between the New Southern Policy (NSP) and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025.

* MPAC 2025, adopted by ASEAN Leaders at the 28^th ASEAN Summit in September 2016, aims to achieve a connected and integrated ASEAN Community. Its five strategic areas are: (a) sustainable infrastructure, (b) digital innovation, (c) seamless logistics, (d) regulatory excellence, and (e) people mobility.

** The ROK government is supporting ‘ASEAN-ROK Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for ASEAN Mobility’ and ‘Development of ASEAN Open Data Dictionary and Performance Index for ASEAN Connectivity’ through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF).

ㅇ He also noted that the ROK government has steadily expanded its financial and institutional foundations to implement the NSP consistently, pointing to the need for the ROK and ASEAN to seek more inclusive and resilient recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 together by strengthening cooperation in the areas of ASEAN connectivity.

* ▴Constant increase** of ASEAN related funds, including the AKCF, ▴Compared to 2018, about 2.2 times increase of ODA towards NSP-related countries in 2022, ▴ Establishment of the ASEAN-ROK ICT Convergence Village, ▴Plans to establish the ASEAN-ROK Industrial Innovation Center (AKIIC), Science and Technology Cooperation Center, and Standardization Research Center (AKSRC), ▴Annual hosting of Connectivity Forums by Korean embassies in NSP countries since 2021, etc.

** (Increase from 2021 to 2022) ▴AKCF: 14 million USD → 16 million USD, ▴Mekong-Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF): 4 million USD → 5 million USD, ▴BIMP-EAGA-ROK Cooperation Fund (BKCF): 1 million USD → 3 million USD

3. On January 19, the second day of the Forum, ways to enhance ASEAN connectivity and plans for utilizing the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund are expected to be discussed, and officials from ten ASEAN member states are also expected to share information on their respective countries’ projects and ask for the interest and participation from the Korean government and companies.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to promote mutually beneficial advancement of the NSP through active communication and consultation with ASEAN member states.