Marcos Jr. calls for synergy in BIMP-EAGA

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. called for increased synergy, innovation, and political will within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Marcos emphasized the Philippines' commitment to a shared vision for a prosperous BIMP-EAGA, noting the sub-region marks eight years of progress since the adoption of the Vision 2025 development blueprint.

Launched in 1994, BIMP-EAGA aims to enhance trade, investments, and tourism through improved intra-regional shipping and air links, alongside power interconnection projects.

Key areas of cooperation within BIMP-EAGA also encompass agribusiness, tourism, environmental initiatives, and socio-cultural education.

The Philippines currently chairs the BIMP-EAGA Summit for this year, with Secretary Leo Tereso Magno of the Mindanao Development Authority prioritizing regional interconnectivity and the transport of goods and people.

President Marcos noted the significant progress in joint initiatives concerning connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, food and energy security, ecotourism, and green development, which reinforce efforts to reduce the development gap in the sub-region.