The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Business Council (BEBC) participated in the 32nd Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional development.
The BEBC Board of Directors (BOD) meeting was held at Le Méridien Hotel on October 14, chaired by Dr Sayid Irwan.
It was attended by country directors from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, alongside private sector representatives and key stakeholders.
Leading the Sultanate’s delegation were the country directors Pengiran Haris bin Pengiran Rahaman, Haji Alimeen bin Haji Jafaar, and Thomas Koh.
The discussions centred on overcoming challenges in cross-border trade, infrastructure, and the movement of people and goods.
Streamlining Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS) processes emerged as a priority, with a focus on enhancing interconnectivity between member countries.
The council also emphasised on harmonising trade regulations in key sectors, such as agriculture, agro-tourism, tourism, and cross-border transportation for chartered coaches and buses, to boost regional economic growth.
The importance of digitalisation and adopting the Internet of Things (IoT) for future advancements was also highlighted. Dr Sayid Irwan called for continued collaboration between governments, industries, and agencies to strengthen economic integration within the region.
He identified the West Borneo Economic Corridor (WBEC), East Borneo Economic Corridor (EBEC), and the Sulu-Sulawesi Corridor as key areas for growth, focusing on improving market access and supporting local competitiveness.
BEBC contributed to the 32nd BIMP-EAGA SOM on October 15, where Dr Sayid Irwan provided updates on infrastructure advancements and the removal of trade barriers.
BEBC praised the SOM and various clusters for their efforts in streamlining border processes to enhance trade and regional connectivity.
As the region celebrates 30 years of progress, BEBC underscored the economic benefits brought by the WBEC, EBEC, and Sulu-Sulawesi Corridor, which have attracted investment and created employment opportunities. The council expressed appreciation to ministers, governors, and local leaders for their roles in advancing the BIMP-EAGA agenda and driving regional growth.
BEBC reaffirmed its dedication to working with all stakeholders to maintain BIMP-EAGA as a dynamic hub for trade and investment. – Fadley Faisal
