ASIATODAY.ID, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Indonesia’s leadership for the 2022-2023 period for the Sub-Regional Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) has had a major impact on positive growth in several macroeconomic indicators.
In 2022, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 7.7% to US$392.1 billion. The BIMP-EAGA region also recorded a trade balance of US$ 84.8 billion from US$ 70.2 billion.
“BIMP-EAGA needs to create a transformative impact on regional integrity, efficiency of economic activities, and encourage sustainability,” said Deputy for International Economic Cooperation, Coordinating Ministry for the Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, Edi Prio Pambudi at the Brunei-Indonesia Sub-Regional Cooperation Senior Official Level Meeting -Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) which was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, Tuesday (24/10/2023).
Furthermore, Deputy Edi said at the meeting that BIMP-EAGA needed to take advantage of the momentum of moving the Indonesian capital to East Kalimantan, which is located in the Makassar Strait, which is an alternative shipping route, both in terms of strategic and connectivity parameters.
It should be noted that the main agenda of the BIMP-EAGA Senior Official Level Meeting is a report on the progress of 8 clusters in BIMP-EAGA cooperation and the awarding of the BIMP-EAGA Chairmanship relay from Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam who will be the Chair for the 2023-2024 period.
Regarding the 8th report of the cluster report, several important achievements of the transport cluster in 2023 include the opening of a new connectivity route, between Tanjung Silopo in West Sulawesi to Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia. Implementation of the BIMP-EAGA MoU on Cross Border Movement of Commercial Buses and Coaches via the Pontianak-Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan route, cargo flights from Bandar Seri Begawan to Balikpapan have been running with a frequency of 3 times per week, and the reopening of Balikpapan, Manado and international airports Makassar for international travel.
Meanwhile, other clusters also reported the initiation of the formation of the BIMP-EAGA Higher Education Network, the implementation of the Green Cities Action Plan (GCAP), the implementation of the ICT CEO Forum and the Budayaw cultural festival, cooperation in the tourism sector, as well as other capacity development projects.
“Our region is blessed with abundant natural resources, a strategic location and a dynamic economy. “Let’s direct the BIMP EAGA Economic Corridor to become a link for various regions and pave the way for a new era of collaboration, mutual respect and mutual growth,” said Deputy Edi.
The meeting also welcomed the establishment of the BIMP-EAGA Parliamentary Forum as a means of communication between the executive and legislature in sub-regional development and appreciated the ongoing contribution of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to BIMP-EAGA cooperation. One of them is through a review study and assessment of the ongoing BIMP-EAGA economic corridor.
For the record, this meeting is part of a series of the 26th BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Level Meeting (PTM) which was held on 23-26 October 2023. The meeting was attended by Senior Officials from all BIMP-EAGA Member Countries, ADB, ASEAN Secretariat, BIMP Facilitation Center (BIMP FC), and BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC).
Meeting with China
In the series of the 26th BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Level Meeting (PTM) which was held on 23-26 October 2023, the 14th BIMP EAGA and China Senior Officials Meeting was also held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, Wednesday (25/10/2023). This is the first physical meeting after the last one was held in 2019.
The meeting discussed the follow-up to the BIMP-EAGA – China cooperation as outlined in the Plan of Action of BIMP EAGA China Cooperation (PoA BECC) 2020 – 2025 which focuses on 9 priority sectors, namely those related to connectivity, agriculture, fisheries processing and the food industry, tourism and socio-cultural, to trade and investment.
Apart from expressing his appreciation, Deputy Edi emphasized the importance of the synergy of BIMP EAGA – China cooperation with initiatives in ASEAN. In addition, the transfer of experience and technology is the most important element to ensure implementation according to plan. Indonesia hopes that these two elements can be reflected in cooperation with China.
Then, Deputy Edi also highlighted the need to review projects that will be carried out in the 9 sectors in the BECC PoA. This is important to ensure alignment with the dynamics and priorities of cooperation in BIMP EAGA and ASEAN.
Furthermore, Deputy Edi proposed five new sectors in the BECC PoA, namely the blue economy, food security, digital transformation to build regional economic resilience through the use of Local Currency Transactions (LCT), energy interconnectivity through the ASEAN Power Grid framework, and the development of the manufacturing industry.
Implementation of the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Synergizing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and the Belt Road Initiative (BRI), and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), can also be implemented in the sub-region. Connectivity between people also needs attention.
Furthermore, BIMP-EAGA, which is developing a university network, can also collaborate with educational institutions in China.
“We hope that this collaboration is based on a complementary partnership, while also trying to encourage MSMEs in the sub-region to become part of the global supply chain,” concluded Deputy Edi.
The meeting was attended by, among others, Senior Officials from all BIMP-EAGA Member Countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the BIMP Facilitation Center (BIMP FC), and the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC). (AT Network)
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