PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III will be participating in the 7th Brunei Darussalam-
Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Leaders Summit on
May 8 following his attendance at the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This will be the first time President Aquino will attend the BIMP-EAGA’s high-level meeting
since assuming the presidency in June 2010. He is expected to provide comprehensive
recommendations on achieving the sub-region’s economic potential, foremost of which are
initiatives to secure the seamless flow of goods and people, and to identify food and agri-
fisheries production zones in BIMP-EAGA.
The event will also serve as a venue for the Chief Executive to push for the development
of the area as a prime eco-tourism destination through the promotion of community-based
strategies such as infrastructure support and incentives for tourism marketing.
The Philippines aims for tangible results in achieving its priorities and the ASEAN region as a
whole.
BIMP-EAGA plays an important role in ASEAN integration and development. The Summit
will provide an important venue for the leaders to discuss ways on how to maximize the
economic opportunities in the sub-region.
Launched in 1994, BIMP-EAGA is a cooperation initiative of four ASEAN-member countries,
namely, Brunei-Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Its creation aims to
accelerate economic development in the “focus areas” of the four countries. The BIMP-
EAGA initiative is market-driven, and operates through a decentralized organization structure
involving the four governments and the private sector.
The BIMP-EAGA cooperation also aims to increase trade, tourism and investments with
and outside the sub-region through the facilitation of free movement of people, goods, and
services, make the best use of common infrastructure and natural resources and take the
fullest advantage of economic complementation. (PCOO/PIA)