KUCHING: The Sarawak government hopes to work closely with other stakeholders in Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the private sector is the engine of growth for BIMP-EAGA, and hoped there would be active participation from the private sector to spearhead the economic development of BIMP-EAGA.
He urged the BIMP-EAGA business council to work closely with Sarawak Business Federation (SBF), Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
“I foresee that BIMP-EAGA is moving on the right path through close collaboration with the People’s Republic of China and Northern Territory of Australia.
“I hope the development assistance from both governments as well as the involvement of their private sectors will open up more markets and create more business opportunities in BIMP-EAGA,” he said during the BIMP-EAGA 25th anniversary dinner at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), on Saturday.
Abang Johari’s text of speech was read by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
Abang Johari noted that BIMP-EAGA was established in 1994 by the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines as a shared strategy to accelerate socio-economic development of the less developed and geographically remote areas in the member countries.
“Sarawak is collaborating with West Kalimantan for the cross-border power transmission. As of today, Sarawak had supplied 230MW of electricity to West Kalimantan. I believe, this is one way that Sarawak contributes to the socio-economic progress of BIMP-EAGA region,” he said.
He added that the BIMP-EAGA has become a very important platform to facilitate improvement of air connectivity within this region, in which the recent expansion of Royal Brunei Airlines, Wings Air and AirAsia flight connectivity in the BIMP-EAGA region has helped to boost the tourism sector.
“Sarawak has huge trade and investment opportunities to offer in BIMP-EAGA, especially in terms of natural resources, products and services,” he said.
The chief minister said the state government was working with Brunei Darussalam and West Kalimantan, Indonesia to promote trade and investments taking into consideration of the cross-border development synergies.
“Among the focus areas are the services sector, namely tertiary education, tourism and health, as well as agriculture and livestock development. That is why we will establish trade and tourism offices, both in Bandar Seri Begawan and Pontianak.
“Sarawak will continue to work closely through BIMP-EAGA platform in our efforts to develop the cross border economic synergies.
“We understand that being a close neighbour within the BIMP-EAGA region, development on each part of the region would have some implications on the other parts.
“Hence, BIMP-EAGA provides us a platform and opportunities to work together to realise our socio-economic development objectives,” he stressed.
He assured that the state government would continue to provide institutional support to complement various initiatives undertaken through BIMP-EAGA.
