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BIMP–EAGA enhances SE Asian connectivity

Members of the Brunei , Indonesia , Malaysia , Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP–EAGA) have signed a number of agreements on transportation projects to accelerate connectivity and trade in the sub-region.
Members of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines–EastASEAN Growth Area (BIMP–EAGA) have signed a number of agreements ontransportation projects to accelerate connectivity and trade in thesub-region.

The agreements were inked at the 8th BIMP-EAGA Transport Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia on October 22.

Indonesian Transport Ministry Secretary-General Leon Muhammad said thatthe projects include air services between Indonesia and Malaysiaand a bridge linking these two countries and Brunei .

The projects will bring practical benefits to local people,particularly businessmen, he said, adding that the June 2013 opening ofthe air service connecting Manado in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi provinceto Davao in southern Mindanao, the Philippines, has helped increaserevenues for the sister cities’ tourism, service and culture sectors.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Asian DevelopmentBank (ADB) and the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) showed theiroptimism about the success of these projects, saying they will help spursubregional economic development thanks to improved air, sea and landlinks.

Initiated in 1994, BIMP–EAGA covers the entiresultanate of Brunei ; the Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan, Sulawesi,Maluku and Papua; the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federalterritory of Labuan in Malaysia , and the Philippines ’ Mindanaoregion and Palawan province.

The subregion covers an area of 1.6 million square kilometres with an estimated population of more than 57 million.-VNA

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