Identifying barriers to progress 14. In order to better understand the progress on ASEAN Connectivity projects and the challenges encountered, the 15 prioritised projects in MPAC 2010 were analysed in detail (Exhibit 4). EXHIBIT 4 Assessment of major barriers for 15 prioritised projects in MPAC 2010 Financing barriers Return on Fiscal investment capacity 1 ASEAN Highway Network 2 Singapore Kunming Rail Link 3 ASEAN Broadband Corridor 4 Melaka-Pekanbaru Power Interconnection 5 West Kalimantan-Sarawak Interconnection 6 RoRo network 7 Mutual Recognition Arrangements 8 Standards harmonisation 9 National Single Windows Major barrier Decision-making barriers Implementation barriers Capital Priority Agency Information Regulatory Coordination structures availability issues issues failures Capacity 10 Investment restrictions 11 Transport facilitation 12 Visa requirements 13 Virtual Learning Centre 14 ICT skill standards 15 ASEAN Community building programme SOURCE: Asian Development Bank; ASEAN Secretariat; ERIA; World Bank 15. A closer look at the 15 prioritised projects, as well as broader barriers related to ASEAN Connectivity projects, reveals some common challenges. These include: Financing barriers i. Return on investment. Some of the projects faced challenges due to a lack of sufficiently attractive return on investment to encourage privatesector investment, even if there were large potential societal benefits. In some instances, while the overall return was attractive, the project economics were undermined by unacceptable risks for the private sector to take on board. These concerns related particularly to the major infrastructure projects, such as the SKRL. For example, low projected traffic, competition for resources from other development projects, and the relative attractiveness of alternative transport sectors has deterred MASTER PLAN ON ASEAN CONNECTIVITY 2025 23

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