Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia and South Korea are preparing to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on infrastructure and construction cooperation by the end of this year. This development is seen as a significant advancement in the bilateral relationship between the two countries in these sectors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that the MoU, which is currently being finalised by the Ministry of Works and South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), aims to foster collaboration in road development, infrastructure modernisation, and construction technology. During his speech at the Korea-Malaysia Road and Construction Technology Cooperation Seminar, Nanta highlighted that the seminar is a direct outcome of his meeting with MOLIT Minister Park Sang-woo last November, where discussions centered around highway management and construction.
The seminar, attended by South Korea’s Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae, was jointly organised by the Korean Embassy in Malaysia, the Ministry of Works, and the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK). It brought together over 130 participants, including government officials, industry players, researchers, and representatives from both nations’ public agencies.
Key presentations at the seminar were delivered by prominent Korean institutions such as the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement (KAIA), Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), and Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), along with companies like S-Traffic and DL E and C. On the Malaysian side, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and Centre of Research for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE) showcased recent advancements in local road infrastructure, while the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) discussed strategies to enhance technology transfer and talent mobility between the two countries.
Nanta underlined that this cooperation aligns with Malaysia’s National Construction Policy (NCP) 2030, which aims to integrate technology into processes, standards, and business culture, serving as a pivotal shift for the Malaysian construction industry. He also noted South Korea’s history of involvement in landmark Malaysian projects like the Penang Bridge and Petronas Twin Towers, which underscores the benefits of their long-standing bilateral cooperation.
From 2018 to March 2025, Korean construction firms have secured 89 projects in Malaysia valued at RM 29.3 billion. In 2024, Malaysia imported RM349 billion worth of construction materials from South Korea, further illustrating the strengthening economic ties between the two nations. Nanta emphasized the significant technical and human resource exchange facilitated by these collaborations, promoting mutual growth and the development of modern, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure.
Nanta also announced his upcoming participation in the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Conference scheduled for the end of May in Seoul, where he will represent Malaysia as the chairman of ITS Malaysia.