In a Joint Statement following the 17th BIMP-EAGA Joint Ministerial Meeting in Manado today, the Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines reiterated their call to prioritize and expedite the implementation of a range of connectivity initiatives in BIMP –EAGA to bolster intra and inter-regional EAGA trade, investment, and tourism as well as to support the realization of food production hubs.

The Ministerial meeting was chaired by Indonesia Minister for National Development Planning/Chair of BAPPENASH.E. Prof. Dr. Armida Alisjahbana to review the progress of cooperation under the BIMP-EAGA Implementation Blueprint 2012-2016. The Blueprint outlines four pillars of cooperation in enhancing intra and inter-region connectivity, establishing BIMP-EAGA as the food basket for ASEAN and Asia, promoting regional tourism and ensuring sustainable management of the environment.

“Enhanced connectivity is a pre-requisite to support and sustain economic growthfor the BIMP-EAGA region. Besides increasing intra-and interregional trade, the subregion is also focusing its attention on broader aspects of connectivity in promoting physical, institutional and people-to people connectivityin view of the geographical distance in the area” said the Minister to the Meeting.

Minister Armida Alisjahbana added; “BIMP EAGA has clearly shown significant growth in trade and investment as well as in tourismin recent years.  Its economic potential remains largely untapped.  We are calling on the private sector including SMEs to partner BIMPEAGA business community to realize the potential through trade, investment, tourism and infrastructure potential as in telecommunications, aviation and ports development”.

“The Implementation Blueprint 2012-2016” identifies potential areas of cooperation and our governments full support to refine our trade, investment and regulatory framework to increase private sector participation in the subregion such as in trade facilitation, doing business, infrastructure, connectivity and sectoral policies.

In the Ministerial Meeting, Minister Armida also highlighted the need tocloselymonitor the implementation of the initiatives as well as to improve collaboration with various stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of BIMP-EAGA programs and initiatives.

Minister Armida concluded hercomments at the Ministerial Meeting today in Manado by drawing the attention of the Delegations to the potential of the BIMP-EAGA connectivity initiatives as a gateway to the ASEAN Economic Community.

The ministers also recognized the crucial role being played by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on supporting the implementation of BIMP-EAGA projects.

High-level representatives attending the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meeting included, The Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam, H.E. Pehin  Lim Jock Seng, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia, H.E. Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid bin Omar, Chairman of Mindanao Development Authority of Philippines, H.E Luwalhati R. Antonino, Minister of Industrial Development of Malaysia, H.E. Datuk Raymond TanShu Kiah, and Minister of Housing and Tourism Sarawak, H.E. Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari.

Humas Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian 
Email: humas.ekon@gmail.com
Twitter: @perekonomianRI
Website: www.ekon.go.id