By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 14: Key infrastructure projects including the Pan Borneo and Northern Coastal Highways, the Trans-Borneo Railway feasibility study, the Tanjung Embang Deep Sea Port, and new maritime routes such as Zamboanga–Sandakan and Davao–Labuan are expected to cut logistics costs by up to 30 per cent.
Speaking at the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Retreat on Samal Island today, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan stressed the crucial role of subnational governments in realising the region’s shared vision of an integrated, prosperous, and resilient BIMP-EAGA.
He reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to advancing regional cooperation and sustainable economic growth under the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework.
“The CMGLF is uniquely positioned to align BIMP-EAGA’s goals with both local and national agendas. Our cooperation must focus on streamlining policies, improving connectivity, enhancing border facilitation, and harnessing our complementarities,” he said in a statement.
Highlighting Sarawak’s active contribution to regional initiatives, Awang Tengah, who also serves as Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment and Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, outlined Malaysia-EAGA’s progress in connectivity, energy cooperation, sustainability, and trade facilitation.
Beyond infrastructure, he underscored Sarawak’s ambitious renewable energy expansion, targeting 10GW by 2030 and 15GW by 2035, alongside initiatives in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and the Blue and Green Economy, positioning the state as a model for low-carbon development and sustainable growth in the region.
On human capital, Awang Tengah highlighted cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and stressed the importance of private sector participation, commending the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) for driving strategic projects such as the BEC Card and the e-commerce consolidation hub at Sungai Tujuh.
Reiterating Sarawak’s readiness to deepen regional partnerships, he pointed to the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Brunei (STATOB) and the forthcoming office in Kalimantan Barat, inviting all BIMP-EAGA members to collaborate in developing halal, high-tech, and low-carbon industries.
“With the full commitment of all member nations, supported by a strong secretariat and active cluster leadership, we can transform Vision 2030 into reality. Together, we will build a BIMP-EAGA that is genuinely integrated, prosperous, and dynamic for generations to come,” he concluded. — DayakDaily
