The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index (2022) and Report were released yesterday at the 13th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) at the Venetian in Cotai, the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) said in a statement.
According to the statement, the report summarises the new trends and characteristics in the infrastructure industry and includes four major proposals including “pushing forward high-quality infrastructure construction with reinforced confidence and a global vision.”
The statement said that “Macau deeply integrated into the overall development of the country.”
The statement cited the report as saying that the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin have entered a new phase. Leveraging its own resources, Macau is highly integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and endeavours to sign tax agreements with more Portuguese-speaking countries and countries along the BRI route. In addition, Macau has maintained stable relations with BRI trading partners and Portuguese-speaking countries, and continues to fully leverage its regional advantages as “One Centre, One Platform, and One Base”, the statement said.
The statement said that the president of the China International Contractors Association, Fang Qiuchen, summarised the current infrastructure development trends during a conference yesterday as follows:
1. The overall Belt and Road (B&R) Infrastructure Development Index has picked up, rising from 113 in 2021 to 114 in 2022.
2. The political and business environments in ASEAN countries have continued to improve, leading to a high ranking on the Infrastructure Development Index. On the other hand, the pace of infrastructure development in Portuguese-speaking countries has accelerated, bringing them to second rank on the Index.
3. The momentum of the development of transportation infrastructure is strong, while the developments of communications, water infrastructure and public health have shown new characteristics – intelligent technologies, shrunk scales, and socialised investments.
4. In order to cope with global climate change, the pace of the green transformation of infrastructure in countries along the BRI route has accelerated.
5. International and cross-sectorial cooperation has empowered and enhanced the efficacy of infrastructure development.
International and cross-sectorial cooperation to promote the sustainable development of international infrastructure.
Report’s 4 suggestions
According to the statement, the report also puts forward four suggestions:
First, strengthening strategic partnership and developing policies and business environments conducive to international infrastructure co-operation.
Second, boosting confidence in cooperation and pushing forward the construction of high-quality infrastructure with a global perspective.
Third, following new trends, adapting to new environments, and using new technologies to further accelerate the pace of green transformation of international infrastructure co-operation.
Fourth, strengthening risk awareness and enhancing the resilience and stability of international infrastructure development.
The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index (2022) and Report have been uploaded onto: www.chinca.org and www.ipim.gov.mo, and are available for download.
Image released by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) yesterday.
