Europe has role in Asean infrastructure boom

THE year 2017 marks 40 years of European and Asean diplomatic relations and it couldn't have come at a more interesting time for the region and Singapore particularly.

Asean has been a favoured destination for European investment for more than two decades, rising to be its third-largest trade partner behind China and the US, and largest source of foreign direct investment.

Today, the economic and demographic fundamentals that have attracted so many European corporates and investors to the region in the past are set to be given a further boost.

Indeed, the 2016 EU-Asean Business Sentiment survey showed 85 per cent of European corporates are plan…