Vietnamese PM proposes ASEAN infrastructure priority list to 2040
Le Minh Hung called for clearer project financing and closer cross-border coordination at a business summit in Manila.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung proposed drawing up a list of ASEAN’s strategic infrastructure priorities to 2040 during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Manila on November 14. He urged member states to agree on regional projects and establish clear funding arrangements, objectives and implementation schedules.
Hung said the list should cover transport links across borders, logistics facilities, electricity networks, digital infrastructure and sustainable smart cities. Projects should be grouped according to how ready they are to proceed, with countries coordinating from initial planning and design through construction.
He proposed four areas of focus for the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026–2035: transport and logistics, energy, digital links, and institutional and people-to-people connections. He advocated linking individual transport projects into economic corridors and described the ASEAN Power Grid as a strategic backbone for regional energy security.
On implementation, Hung called for member states to align technical requirements and legal standards and agree on how costs and benefits would be shared. He also sought stronger support for feasibility studies, financial advice and risk assessments, alongside closer links among governments, development banks, investment funds and other financiers.
Private businesses should have a substantive role, contributing technology and management expertise as well as capital, he said. Hung also urged simpler customs procedures, greater alignment of standards and stronger cooperation in education, science and technology. The business summit runs on November 14–15 alongside the 49th ASEAN Summit in the Philippine capital.
