Lê Minh Hưng Proposes ASEAN Infrastructure Priority List Through 2040
Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng proposed an ASEAN infrastructure priority list through 2040 at a business and investment summit in the Philippines on November 14. He also outlined four connectivity priorities covering transport and logistics, energy, digital infrastructure, and institutions and people.
On November 14, Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng proposed an ASEAN infrastructure priority list through 2040 while attending the 2026 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in the Philippines. He called for selecting cross-border transport, logistics, power grid, digital infrastructure and sustainable smart city projects of strategic importance to the region, with clear objectives, funding, timelines and financing plans for each project.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng speaks at the 2026 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.（VietVance）
Lê Minh Hưng said the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026–2035 should focus on four priorities: developing cross-border corridors linking transport, production and trade; strengthening regional energy infrastructure connections and advancing the ASEAN Power Grid; building a secure, seamless regional digital ecosystem; and harmonizing standards and customs procedures while promoting exchanges in education, science and technology, and highly skilled personnel. He also stressed the need to make infrastructure more resilient to climate change and other risks.
For implementation, he urged member states to coordinate cross-border projects from planning and design through execution, harmonize technical and legal standards, and improve mechanisms for sharing costs and benefits. He also called for stronger feasibility studies, financing advice and risk assessments; closer links among governments, development banks, investment funds and private capital; and deeper private-sector participation in construction and operations.
Participants noted that ASEAN’s gross domestic product exceeded US$4.2 trillion in 2025, when its economy grew 4.9%; growth in 2026 is forecast at about 4.5%. The Asian Development Bank estimates that ASEAN needs approximately US$210 billion in infrastructure investment annually to meet its development needs. Lê Minh Hưng said Vietnam would align its domestic infrastructure development with stronger ASEAN connectivity.
Source: VietVance
