Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggar (ANTARA) – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn said the bloc’s Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Development Area (BIMP-EAGA). The mechanism will bring great benefits to the people living in the region.
„ASEAN and the BIMP-EAGA mechanism can provide great benefits to the people of the region while continuing to maintain regional and global peace, security and stability,” Hourn noted during the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. Thursday, the final day of the summit.
On the same day, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim chaired a closed-door meeting of countries that are parties to the BIMP-EAGA. Malaysia currently holds the BIMP-EAGA Chair.
The meeting discussed several issues related to the BIMP-EAGA Minister’s Report to Leaders, documents to state leaders outlining cooperation achievements under the food basket, connectivity, tourism, environment and five priority pillars. Socio-Cultural Education.
The leaders of the participating countries are to sign the Joint Leaders’ Statement on Achieving the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025.
On Thursday, President Joko Widodo presided over the 15th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Development Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit.
The President said the IMT-GT should promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth amid global challenges and uncertainties.
According to him, IMT-GT’s trade volume is relatively good, with trade value equal to 618 million US dollars or Rp9,089.23 trillion, despite the challenges raised by the global crisis.
The IMT-GT is an economic cooperation framework aimed at promoting the welfare and economic development of the people living in the border areas of the IMT-GT countries. Through the framework, the three countries continue to promote tourism as an engine of growth.
The Indonesian regions included in the cooperation framework are Aceh, Bangka Belitung, Pengulu, Jambi, Lampung, South Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
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