COORDINATING MINISTRY FOR ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE
HM.4.6/112/SET.M.EKON.3/03/2023

Celebrating 30 years of IMT-GT Cooperation: Reflections to Increasing Connectivity and Economic Development in the Region

Jakarta, March 22th, 2023

The Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) cooperation in recent years has had a significant impact on the welfare of people in the region. In order to optimize this impact, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation in both planning and implementation of IMT-GT programs so that the resulting benefits can reach various regions in each country.

Following up on this, the Deputy for Coordination of International Economic Cooperation Edi Prio Pambudi led the Indonesian Delegation at the Strategic Planning Meeting (SPM) IMT-GT which was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday (21/03), to report the development of cooperation and plan the programs for the current year.

"IMT-GT cooperation needs to account risks and opportunities from global dynamics and megatrends, to realize the IMT-GT 2036 Vision," said Deputy Edi at the beginning of the meeting.

On this occasion, there were 8 areas of cooperation that were reported, including agriculture, tourism, halal products, digital transformation, trade and investment, environment, connectivity, and human resource development. In addition, it also reports on the development of academic cooperation (University Network) as well as the business sector (Joint Business Council).

Furthermore, the meeting also discussed a series of priority agendas for 2023, including the 15th IMT-GT Summit which will take place on the side-lines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May, the 30th anniversary of the IMT-GT, and the IMT-GT Visit Year 2023-2025. It is hoped that these series of activities will be able to promote the benefits of sub-regional cooperation and contribute to facing the challenges of institutional mechanisms as well as regional and global dynamics.

"30 years is the ideal age for the IMT-GT Cooperation to reflect and play an active role in the current and future multidimensional crises," said Deputy Edi.

Furthermore, Deputy Edi emphasized 4 important things to be considered in the future. First, strengthening connectivity to facilitate the flow of goods, people, and capital, as well as strengthening supply chain. Second, the adoption of digital technology, including in the development of MSMEs. Third, the acceleration of the energy transition. Fourth, take advantage of the position and availability of IMT-GT strategic commodities in global trade.

In particular, Deputy Edi also conveyed directions related to food security and the sustainability of the agricultural sector, reopening tourist attractions by involving all parties, the IMT-GT program as a regional halal hub by cooperating with University Network (UNINET) and the business world, inter-island and continental connectivity, sub-regional digital transformation, the role of the business world in the region to participate in the MSME exhibition side event in the IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting in Batam September 2023, strengthening Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) cooperation, and support for green and blue economy programs.

Closing the meeting, a number of Senior Officials also gave directions to the Working Group related to ongoing projects and proposed new projects. There needs to be synergy and close cooperation between stakeholders to realize the project, especially for on-going projects.

Also attending at the event were Malaysia Senior Official, Thailand Senior Official, ADB Director, and Director of The Center for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT). (iap/haq/dft/iqb/map/fsr)

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Head of Communications, Information Services, and Meetings Bureau
Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Haryo Limanseto

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