ASEAN policymakers have voiced growing concerns over the urgent need to strengthen steel standards for high-rise construction, citing heightened seismic risks and the lack of structured cooperation among member states, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong said today.
Liew revealed that regional officials are now advocating for the creation of an ASEAN Council on Steel to formalise intergovernmental dialogue and coordination on steel industry policy.
“The worries were the reactions to the earthquakes in Thailand and Myanmar, as well as earthquake risks in the region. Even Peninsula Malaysia has to worry about earthquakes after the occurrence in Segamat recently,” he said in a statement.
He stressed that while industry associations such as the Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) facilitate regular dialogue among private sector players, ASEAN governments have yet to establish a platform to collectively address steel-related challenges.
“Usually, trade officials of ASEAN would meet regularly, but those responsible for industries rarely venture out of the country. Industrial development is treated as a domestic matter, and often individual countries see themselves in competition with their neighbours for foreign investments,” Liew noted.
His comments followed the inaugural ASEAN steel roundtable he co-chaired alongside SEAISI secretary-general Yeoh Wee Jin, attended by officials from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar.
Among the key issues discussed were steel capacity management, trade concerns such as dumping and countervailing duties, decarbonisation efforts, as well as cross-border technology transfer, skills development, and industry training.
Liew underscored the need for a coordinated regional strategy to raise construction standards, promote industrial cooperation and advance environmental goals, particularly as the region grapples with both infrastructural growth and natural disaster risks. - October 1, 2025
