The two-day 13th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF), co-organised by China International Contractors Association and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, successfully concluded in Macao on 29 September.
According to the organisers, 41 events were held at this year’s IIICF, attracting more than 1,300 leaders and executives from over 600 organisations including governmental agencies, financial institutions, contractors and companies on the industry chain from around the world who participated in the forum onsite, as well as over 500,000 visitors who watched the live video stream of the forum online.
With the theme ‘Building High-standard, Sustainable and People-centred Infrastructure’, the IIICF discussed the opportunities and challenges facing international infrastructure cooperation in the post-pandemic era. The forum looked to build a broad consensus, and consolidate international cooperation for the facilitation of green infrastructure projects around the world.
The organisers revealed that some 210 business meetings and matchmaking activities were held during the IIICF, which led to the signing of 19 cooperation agreements on housing and infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, iron ore projects in Kazakhstan, photovoltaic power plants in Argentina, and hydroelectric power plants and supporting transmission and substation projects in Congo, with an aggregate investment value of US$15 billion – an increase of 550% over last year.
The exhibition area of IIICF was expanded by 20% compared with the previous edition, said the organisers, showcasing new technologies, products and services of the industry and leaders in related industries.
As one of the forum’s highlights, the Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index (2022) and the Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index Report (2022) were launched. They present how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played an important role in international infrastructure investment and construction projects.
CHINCA also launched the ‘Mechanism for International Sustainable Infrastructure Promotion’, in association with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in a joint bid to promote the diversified, inclusive, green, low-carbon and climate-resilient development of sustainable infrastructure.
In addition, Huawei released the ‘Smart Road Partner Go Global Program’ and the Smart Highway White Paper, detailing the company’s comprehensive solutions to the international community for investment in as well as construction, operation and management of smart highways.
Fang Qiuchen, chairman of CHINCA, said that “in the post-pandemic era, countries will face unique challenges” and thus stressed “the importance of the international community to come together to invest in infrastructure and construction, in order to fuel economic growth and development, and improve people’s livelihoods.”
He added that the forum will further “strengthen cooperation among all parties involved and expand the space for international cooperation, both of which are of great significance to the furthering of the Belt and Road initiative, the implementation global development initiatives and the facilitation of the build-out of a community of human destiny.”
