STORY: BRI projects promote connectivity in SE Asia: Indonesian scholar
DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:31
LOCATION: Jakarta
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Belt and Road Initiative projects
2. SOUNDBITE (English): MOHAMMAD FAISAL, Executive director, Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia

STORYLINE:
An Indonesian scholar has said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and promoting infrastructure development in Southeast Asia.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI.

SOUNDBITE (English): MOHAMMAD FAISAL, Executive director, Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia
"The Belt and Road initiative is actually to promote connectivity. There are lots and lots of infrastructure that have been built under the Belt and Road Initiative. These infrastructures, for example, built in Pakistan, also some other ASEAN countries, especially Laos and Thailand, will promote connectivity. For ASEAN countries, I can see, for example, the development of high-speed rails, which can support tourism. If we look at the condition of tourism in ASEAN, for example, there's an increase of tourists traveling or doing activities in Malaysia and cities in Indonesia like Medan and also Bandung because of new flights. The concept of the Belt and Road Initiative is to help other countries in the region to cut the cost of travel, especially not only passengers but also freight or goods. So it means that it should cut the logistic cost and promote activities in terms of export and import. So with better connectivity, of course, it will stimulate economic activities, meaning that would lead to better and higher economic (growth)."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jakarta.
(XHTV)