Jakarta, INTI - On October 16, 2024, the 27th BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meeting held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, marked the conclusion of a series of discussions that began on October 13, 2024. This meeting was attended by delegations from BIMP-EAGA member countries (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines), with Indonesia represented by Rizal Edwin, Special Staff of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in the field of Digital Transformation, Creativity, and Human Resources, on behalf of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.
In his opening remarks, Rizal Edwin emphasized the importance of strengthening connectivity in the BIMP-EAGA subregion, both in terms of physical, digital, and energy infrastructure. He stressed that collaboration among member countries must be enhanced to address challenges posed by regional and global geopolitical and geo-economic turbulence. He also highlighted the urgency of strengthening Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS) and accelerating the development of border infrastructure as top priorities. “The convergence of CIQS and the development of border infrastructure needs to be swiftly implemented to support holistic connectivity,” he said.
Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Challenges
The BIMP-EAGA Ministers provided strategic guidance on how to respond to the ever-changing global dynamics. Geopolitics and geo-economics are now major challenges that ASEAN countries, including BIMP-EAGA, must address. Globalization and global economic uncertainties require concrete steps to ensure that this subregion remains competitive and integrated into the global economy.
Amid global conflicts affecting economic stability, the ministers stressed the importance of strengthening intra-regional cooperation and economic diversification. Digitalization emerged as one of the main solutions offered to foster a more inclusive and sustainable economic transformation. Additionally, the green energy sector was viewed as a significant opportunity to be maximized to support sustainable development in BIMP-EAGA.
Four Key Factors Towards BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025
Indonesia, through its delegation, outlined four key factors to achieve the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025. First, aligning the post-2025 ASEAN and BIMP-EAGA visions with a focus on enhancing digital connectivity and economic integration. Second, strengthening institutional mechanisms through the establishment of a joint secretariat with a legal framework to facilitate cooperation among member countries.
Third, leveraging opportunities in the digital, green, and blue economy sectors, as well as the circular economy. This includes applying digital technology in trade, transportation, and tourism, which is expected to drive sustainable economic growth. Fourth, Indonesia emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with other subregional forums, such as the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), to exchange information and collaborate on identifying joint investment opportunities.
Strengthening the Role of Local Leaders in BIMP-EAGA
Indonesia’s delegation also encouraged regional leaders to strengthen the BIMP-EAGA Chief Ministers, Governors, and Local Governments Forum (CMGLF). This forum is expected to provide a space for local leaders to share best practices in addressing economic challenges such as inflation, digitalization, and the empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“We can learn from the CMGF Forum in IMT-GT, which has been long established and successfully enhanced local government involvement in subregional economic development. Active involvement of local leaders is crucial in formulating clear and measurable action plans,” said Rizal Edwin.
Directives and Follow-Up
This meeting was chaired by Malaysia’s Minister of Economy, Rafizi Ramli, and attended by high-ranking officials including Acting Director General of Brunei’s Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Hairol Hamid, and Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines, Romeo Castañaga. Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Secretariat also provided strategic input during the meeting.
At this meeting, the BIMP-EAGA Ministers reaffirmed the importance of follow-up actions on agreements reached, particularly regarding the enhancement of digital and physical connectivity in the subregion. Investment in strategic infrastructure, such as ports, airports, and cross-border energy networks, will be the primary focus to support future economic growth.
In the face of various challenges, this meeting is expected to strengthen cooperation among BIMP-EAGA member countries in creating a more connected, competitive, and sustainable region.
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