KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- ASEAN steel policymakers have proposed forming an ASEAN Council on Steel to enhance government-to-government (G2G) engagement in the region’s steel industry, said Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister (MITI) Liew Chin Tong.
The idea was proposed during the ASEAN Steel Policymakers’ meeting earlier, which was attended by regional delegates from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar.
Liew said the proposed council would push for more G2G and association-level discussions in the region and structure the steel industry in a more organised and sustainable manner.
“The idea is that over the years, the steel industry has had a channel via the South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI). However, governments in the region have not engaged with each other on the steel industry.
“We feel that it is time for a more G2G conversation and also an ASEAN-wide conversation on the steel industry. Therefore, we propose the formation of an ASEAN Council on Steel,” he said.
He told reporters this after attending the Malaysian Iron and Steel Industry Federation (MISIF) 2025 Steel Industry Annual Dinner here today.
Liew said the proposed council would highlight five key agendas, including capacity management, decarbonisation, steel standards for high-rise buildings, technical cooperation and trade remedies.
“Additionally, I would also like to extend this proposed council to China. Recently, I went to Beijing and met the China Iron and Steel Association, and I was very impressed by their sophistication,” he said.
Earlier, MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said steel demand in ASEAN has grown steadily, with apparent consumption in the ASEAN-6 at 74 million tonnes in 2023, close to the pre-pandemic peak of 80 million tonnes in 2018–2019.
Commenting on the inaugural ASEAN Steel Policymakers’ meeting and the 2025 ASEAN Steel Forum, Liew said the Philippines delegation, as ASEAN chair next year, has decided to continue organising the event.
“So next year they will do it in the Philippines and we will all participate,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
