KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Malaysia is calling for regional integration to reduce social disparities and trade barriers among Asian countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said active participation from all Asian nations can boost economic growth and create jobs in the green economy by leveraging their extensive infrastructure, particularly in transportation.

"With 4.7 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$41.3 trillion, Asia has the potential to be the epicentre of the global economy.

"Moving forward, we must cooperate strategically in the transportation sector, which is essential for sustaining economic growth for our mutual benefits,” he said at the High-Level 15th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum in Asia here today.

Fadillah said Malaysia has heavily invested in sustainable transportation, supporting public transportation projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Projects like urban and intercity rail systems and East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) are expected to contribute positively to these efforts, he said.

"The ECRL aligns with the National Transport Policy’s goal to shift heavy goods transportation from road to rail, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"The government also promotes the adoption of electric vehicles and invites stakeholders to participate by investing in EV infrastructure and adoption in Malaysia,” he added.

Malaysia is committed to reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector and the country aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent of GDP by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.

Embracing eco-friendly practices in transportation is both environmentally responsible and beneficial for creating more efficient sustainable business models, Fadillah added. — Bernama