KOTA KINABALU: BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia Philippines-East Asean Growth Area) can be a major contributor to the realisation of an Asean economic community, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
NEW DEVELOPMENT: Tan (third left) together with Philippines ex-president Fidel Ramos (fourth left), visit the BIMP-EAGA expo at Sabah Trade Centre. Also seen is Brunei Foreign and Commerce Second Minister Pehin Datuk Seri Lim Jock Seng (second left). — Bernama photo
However, there must be better connectivity in order to facilitate a freer movement of goods and people to transform EAGA, he said in his key note address at the official opening of the BIMP-EAGA expo here yesterday.
In his address delivered by Industrial Development Minister Datuk Raymond Tan, Musa stressed on the need to encourage the growth of entrepreneurs who are able to take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge from a stronger cooperation within BIMP-EAGA.
“Regional cooperation and economic integration is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity. Our economies are small if compared to Asia’s twin economic giants, India and China.
“But together, Asean is a formidable grouping with a combined market of 550 million and a GDP that is the third largest in Asia,” Musa said and stressed ‘for Asean to remain relevant, we must pursue economic integration at the sub-regional level’.
He added, “our proximity within nations and our capacity to produce significant volumes of similar agriculture commodities are critical factors in the development of an integrated production base and an efficient value chain.”
Musa also spoke about the need for the private sector to be more involved in BIMP-EAGA.
Efforts to pursue the initiative, he said, would be meaningless if the private sector does not become an active player because it is, after all, the private sector that makes investments and conducts trade and tourism.
He was of the opinion that the private sector through the leadership of BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) should strengthen its capacity to collectively promote trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region.
“I was informed that BIMP-EAGA is in the process of preparing a blueprint that would build on the gains of the development roadmap and set out specific goals as well as targets in the different areas of cooperation.
“I hope the private sector will actively participate in the preparation of the blueprint to ensure that your aspirations for a more economically integrated BIMP-EAGA are incorporated,” he stressed.
Musa added that the private sector must contribute perspectives and take ownership of a strategy that will shape the future of BIMP-EAGA cooperation.
He however pointed out that while BIMP-EAGA was formed out of a need to address common development challenges, it is important for the grouping, as they move forward, to take stock of their individual strengths and shared resources.
“They must capitalise on the strengths and resources to collectively engage markets in the region and globally to reap maximum benefits,” he said adding that, “it will not be an easy task but I believe it can be done.”
According to him, it has been frequently asserted that EAGA’s major constraint is its weak economic complementaries.
“The sub-region produces and exports similar commodities but we should view this in a positive way to strengthen our agriculture, fisheries and manufacturing sectors, allowing EAGA to have greater significance in Asean,” he stressed.
The food basket vision of BIMP-EAGA, Musa said, is timely given that food security is a pressing agenda worldwide and he added that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that the world’s food production must increase by 70 per cent in 2050 in order to meet the estimated population growth of 9.1 billion.
Musa also pointed out that tourism is another source of wealth for BIMP-EAGA as it is blessed with a diverse range of natural attractions and good environment.
The growth area, he said, is home to one of the largest and oldest rainforests, two rich marine biodiversity sites namely the Sulu and Sulawesi seas and four world heritage site, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Mulu Caves in Sarawak as well as the Tubattaha Reefs and St Paul Subterranean River, both in Palawan.
“We have attractions that can parallel the world’s best but if we are to realise our vision of becoming a tourism hub alongside with making our mark as a food basket, member nations in this grouping will have to revisit our cooperation strategies with a view to strengthen the way we cooperate,” he stressed.
Sabah, according to him, has a lot to offer to BIMP-EAGA and the state government’s commitment to make the grouping work remains strong.
Strategically located and endowed with natural resources as well as vast land, Sabah is an important contributor to the grouping’s overall aims to further consolidate the agriculture and tourism sectors.
“I do hope that we will be able to form meaningful partnerships with our partners in the region to create more business and employment opportunities apart from generating higher incomes for our people,” Musa said.