BIMP-EAGA Commends Private Sector For Progress In Submarine Terrestrial Cable Project

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The 18th Brunei-Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Ministerial Meeting has commended the private sector for the progress in the implementation of the BIMP-EAGA Submarine Terrestrial Cable project and looks forward to its full operation by 2016. "We note with encouragement the initiatives by the ICT cluster, including the formulation of the proposed multilateral cooperation on ICT," the ministers said in a joint statement issued here. The meeting, convened in Brunei Wednesday, reviewed the progress of the cooperation and discussed key issues and challenges in pursuit of its shared vision for the growth area. The meeting was chaired by Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Lim Jock Seng. The ministers were encouraged by the overall economic progress of the BIMP-EAGA sub-region with real Gross Domestic Product growth of 4.7 per cent in 2013," the ministers said. The statement said that total trade slightly increased in 2013 to US$166.35 billion from US$166.05 billion in 2012. Foreign direct investments grew by 23 per cent to US$10.2 billion from US$8.2 billion while domestic investments increased fourfold to US$4.6 billion from US$1.1 billion, it said. "We remain optimistic of BIMP-EAGA’s growth prospects in the coming years," the ministers said. The ministers recognised the continued progress in the implementation of the projects under the BIMP-EAGA Implementation Blueprint (IB) 2012-2016. "We agree to intensify our work to realise its implementation and thus, tasked our senior officials and the sector clusters to expedite work on the projects and implement them according to the timeline, including their integration into national policies, budget and programmes," it said. On connectivity, the ministers noted the significant progress in the implementation of the Priority Infrastructure Projects (PIPs), the majority of which involve the improvement of roads, sea ports and airports to link the economic corridors. "We continue to recognise the role of connectivity as a driver of the BIMP-EAGA development. "Thus, we urge our senior officials and clusters in consultation with the private sector and development partners to identify feasible and bankable projects to further enhance connectivity and elevate the connectivity agenda beyond 2016. The ministers commended the efforts of the transport officials in advancing transport connectivity and facilitation in the sub-region and noted the actions being taken to support the accelerated and improved implementation of the transport-related Memoranda of Understanding (MoU). This included the amendment of the protocol on the MoU on the Expansion of Air Linkages; finalisation of the MoU on Non-Convention Sized Ships; and the review on the implementation of the land transport agreement. "Thus, we look forward to the early conclusion of these initiatives and the implementation of the resulting recommendations, as appropriate," it said. The ministers were pleased with the progress of the West Kalimantan and Sarawak Power Interconnection project which would contribute to the optimum use of energy resources in BIMP-EAGA. "We welcome the outcome and recommendations of the study on 'Evaluating the Prospects for Interconnections among the Borneo-Mindanao Power Systems'. In view of the realisation of the Asean Community in 2015, the ministers noted that there is a need for greater collaboration between sub-regional initiatives with Asean-wide initiatives. "We agree on the need for a mechanism to facilitate all these initiatives and call for the formation of a Project Assessment Committee to assess and evaluate sub-regional projects and initiative and to work together with the Asean Secretariat for greater project coordination," it said. Acknowledging the pivotal role of the private sector in BIMP-EAGA, the ministers urged the BIMP-EAGA Business Council to be more proactive in attracting private sector individuals, groups and industry associations to invest and to support the implementation of initiatives in the area of enhancing connectivity, establishing food security and promoting tourism in BIMP-EAGA. On cooperation with partners, the ministers thanked the Regional Development Advisor, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for its continued support and assistance in the operationalisation of the IB 2012-2016. "We urge ADB to continue its technical assistance projects in the transport, energy, trade facilitation and environment sectors as well as in institutional strengthening and capacity building. "We task our officials to look into their recommendations put forward to sustain our cooperation beyond 2016, including the formulation of second generation PIPs. The ministers welcomed the outcome of the 8th BIMP-EAGA and China Senior Officials Meeting and express their satisfaction for China’s support, including providing capacity building in the ICT sector. "We look forward to their continued assistance in new project proposals in the agriculture, environment and connectivity sectors. Thus, we urge our stakeholders to have a more dynamic engagement with China in establishing actual joint venture undertakings. The ministers attending the meeting were Dr Sofyan A Djalil, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (Indonesia); Abdul Wahid Omar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Malaysia); Luwalhati R. Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority chairman (the Philippines). The others were Raymond Tan, State Minister of Industrial Development (Sabah); Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg, State Minister of Tourism and Housing (Sarawak); Rozman Isli, Labuan Corporation chairman (Malaysia); and Jose C. Alvarez, Governor of Palawan (the Philippines). -- BERNAMA