Speaking during a special group interview, Messe Düsseldorf Asia (MDA) managing director Gernot Ringling said many countries were investing in a variety of projects, both public and private, to create comprehensive infrastructure to support border reopenings. Transportation and logistics, including the use of renewable energy and EVs, and connectivity between nations are all part of the investments, he noted. Southeast Asia is the seventh largest economic bloc in the world and witnessing fast growth, a MDA study showed. By 2030, urbanisation will encompass 45 per cent and the demand for infrastructure development, including wires, cables, tubes, pipes, foundry and metallurgy and steel production will also grow, it said. Overall, finished-steel global consumption reached 1.77 billion tonnes, of which 73 per cent went to Asia.
