On May 31, 2022, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekan, Executive Director, Mekong Institute (MI) shared his views on “Accelerating Green Growth in the ASEAN Region: ASEAN and ROK Perspectives” at the 18th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity. He highlighted that green growth is central to enabling and driving sustainable development, strengthening Southeast Asia’s long-term economic competitiveness, and building resilience against environmental crises and any future pandemic.
Green growth is a sustainable and viable pathway – balancing economic growth with social and environmental responsibility. Not investing in this could result in significant economic and environmental costs,
He then invited the audience, comprising prominent speakers and subject-matter experts from government, business, and civil society, to focus on transforming agricultural and farming practices, developing sustainable urban development and transport models, transitioning to clean energy, and creating a circular economy.
He also underscored the role of governments in setting the policy framework and the right incentives to mobilize financial resources.
On the partnership between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK),
The two parties need to take advantage of its comparative advantages to push forward the green growth agenda. For example, by having a collaborative platform to facilitate sharing of ROK’s experience in green and clean technology development, and learning between governments, experts and other related stakeholders that can accelerate the green transitioning of the economies.
