Thailand and France are reportedly set to sign an agreement next month on joint development of high-speed rail in Thailand. In an email interview, Lieven Jacquemyn, founder and managing director of the Singapore-based infrastructure investment and development firm Plektics, explained Southeast Asia’s infrastructure needs and infrastructure’s impact on regional integration.
WPR: What are some of Southeast Asia's most pressing unmet infrastructure needs, and what are the primary obstacles to infrastructure development?
Lieven Jacquemyn: The emerging economies in Southeast Asia have seen impressive growth, and in order to sustain this growth, the general consensus is that energy and transportation infrastructure needs to be developed and improved. In particular, governments in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines have shown significant activity in promoting investment in these sectors.