By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Sept 10: The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) must move beyond being a platform for dialogue and focus on implementing concrete projects and initiatives to strengthen regional connectivity, trade and investment.
Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said BIMP-EAGA’s priorities should now centre on translating commitments into tangible outcomes, particularly in facilitating the movement of people and goods and promoting cross-border economic activities.
“BIMP-EAGA is no longer just about cooperation and dialogue. The priority now is implementation by turning our clusters and working groups into concrete projects, stronger connectivity, greater trade and investment, and tangible benefits for the people and businesses,” he said as reported by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).
He said this when officiating the 4th BIMP-EAGA Trade Facilitation Cluster (TFC) Meeting organised by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department in Miri on Wednesday (Sept 9).
Lee, who is also Senadin assemblyman, said BIMP-EAGA was particularly important to Sarawak given its strategic location on Borneo and close ties with neighbouring countries.
He said regional cooperation should focus on strengthening air and maritime connectivity, land corridors, cross-border facilitation, ports and logistics, while also integrating these efforts with the tourism and trade sectors.
“For communities and businesses, particularly those in border areas, connectivity is not merely about infrastructure. It is also about how easily people can travel, how efficiently goods can move, and how businesses can participate in regional economic opportunities,” he said.
Lee also highlighted the role of the Trade Facilitation Cluster in streamlining trade and cross-border movement through closer cooperation among Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) agencies.
He said the sharing of experiences and joint efforts to address common challenges would be crucial in improving the efficiency of cross-border processes.
According to Lee, the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 should be leveraged to ensure that agreed policies and agreements translate into smoother border crossings, more efficient movement of people and goods, and greater economic opportunities.
He expressed confidence that the two-day meeting would further strengthen cooperation among BIMP-EAGA member countries and advance the Trade Facilitation Cluster’s agenda.
The meeting brought together delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as representatives from the BIMP-EAGA Business Council, Asian Development Bank and the Malaysia National Secretariat under the Ministry of Economy.
Also present were Customs deputy director-general (Customs and Domestic Taxes) Siti Mang, Sarawak Customs director Datuk Norizan Yahya, Trade Facilitation Cluster chairperson Jalaine M. Indol and head of the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre Effendi Jamaludin. — DayakDaily
