"We share the view that greater connectivity will help reduce production and transportation costs, strengthen regional supply chains, and improve the business climate in the region," President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono said.
Nusa Dua, Bali province (ANTARA News) - Leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries have reiterated their support for building more infrastructure in the region to improve connectivity.

"We share the view that greater connectivity will help reduce production and transportation costs, strengthen regional supply chains, and improve the business climate in the region. At the same time, infrastructure and connectivity building will create more jobs and ensure job security," President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono said on Tuesday after the conclusion of the APEC Leaders Meeting 2013.

The economies in the Asia Pacific region reportedly need a total of US$850 billion to build infrastructure. This considerable amount of money needs to come from sizeable financial sources, which means the private sector. To meet this goal, the Indonesian President called for closer cooperation between the government and the private sector.

"A close collaboration will result in a win-win situation, especially at a time when the global economy is yet to fully recover," he added.

Some big players in Asia Pacific have also been stating their interest in investing in infrastructure building in the region. Yasushi Takase, Japan`s Deputy Director General of the Economic Affairs Bureau had stated earlier that his country was willing to support infrastructure projects in the Asia Pacific.

"Enhancing connectivity is a very important issue for the region because this is the foundation for regional economic integration. We would like to make a contribution on this particular front," he said.

Sharing Japan`s view, a Taiwan official said his country was also interested in boosting Asia-Pacific`s infrastructure sector.

"We want to participate in any project initiated within APEC," Chung-Ming Kuan, Taiwan`s head of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, stated on Sunday on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013