Four Asean Countries Agree To Strengthen Fishery Cooperation

Padang, W Sumatra, May 15 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is hosting the 10th meeting of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, aimed at developing the so-called "natural resource cluster" in the region. "The four countries remain committed to strengthening cooperation in benefiting from this region as an ASEAN food barn," the secretary general of the marine affairs and fisheries ministry, Gellywnn Jusuf said in a press statement released on Monday. Gellywnn said he reiterated the four ASEAN member countries` commitment during the three-day meeting of BIMP-EAGA senior officials in charge of agricultural and fishery sectors which opened on Monday. The cooperation was expected to able to answer various interests and needs of all member states by strengthening and expanding cross border cooperation in a sustainable way, he said. "The BIMP EAGA meeting may serve as a momentum and strategic step to carry out effective cooperation among countries in the region to make the eastern part of ASEAN region a world food barn as part of efforts to anticipate a global food crisis," he said. The meeting also discussed efforts to lay a basis for the creation of an ASEAN Community by 2015, particularly through regional economic integration in the agroindustrial and fishery sectors. It also discussed progress made in the realization of ASEAN Integrated on Food Security (AIFS). For its part, Gellywnn said BIMP-EAGA opened the widest possible chance for the private sector through the BIMP EAGA Business Council (BEBC) to achieve the regional development growth target.