ASEAN policymakers are considering the formation of a regional council to ensure only the highest standards of steel are used in high-rise construction, following rising concerns over earthquake risks in the region.
Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong said the proposed ASEAN Council on Steel would bring together government officials responsible for the industry to discuss common issues in a structured manner.
“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,” Liew said in a statement.
He noted that while steel industry associations already engage through the Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI), government-level discussions remain limited. “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,” he added.
Liew recently co-chaired the inaugural roundtable on the steel industry with SEAISI secretary-general Yeoh Wee Jin, which was attended by officials from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar.
The meeting also discussed broader challenges including steel capacity management, decarbonisation, trade practices such as dumping and countervailing measures, as well as technology transfer, training and skills development.
