President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the need for greater synergy, innovation, and political will within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) as the subregional grouping enters the next phase of its shared development agenda.
Presiding over the 16th BIMP-EAGA Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, President Marcos acknowledged the “quite remarkable progress” achieved over the past eight years since the adoption of the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025.
“Since 2017, our cooperation has deepened, and our partnership has delivered tangible benefits for our peoples,” President Marcos said, encouraging continued collaboration to sustain momentum and deliver inclusive growth across member economies.
President Marcos also noted significant advances in joint initiatives in connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, food and energy security, ecotourism, and green development.
“As we convene today, let us take this opportunity to not only celebrate these milestones, but to also reaffirm our shared vision for a more integrated, prosperous, and resilient BIMP-EAGA,” President Marcos said.
“The path ahead calls for even greater synergy, innovation, and political will. I am confident that through our cooperation, we will continue to transform these aspirations that we have into lasting impacts for our peoples,” the President added.
The sub-regional group is currently formulating the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035, a forward-looking blueprint that will guide its strategic priorities for the coming decade.
As a vital initiative within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the BIMP-EAGA seeks to accelerate inclusive economic growth and development in less developed and geographically remote areas of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, fostering greater regional integration and prosperity.
The cooperation focuses on key areas including trade, investment, and tourism and strategic sectors such as infrastructure development, power interconnection, and socio-cultural and educational exchanges. | PND
