ASEAN to endorse growth area program<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali<\/p>\n
Leaders of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the
\nPhilippines are ready to \"recognize\" the existence of the East
\nAsian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), designed to help boost trade
\nbetween the neighboring countries, a senior Indonesian government
\nofficial said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Firman Tamboen, the deputy at the Office of the Coordinating
\nMinister for the Economy, said that the move would ensure
\npolitical commitment from the leaders to resolving lingering
\nproblems hampering economic cooperation.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that with this recognition, the leaders can address
\nthe problems,\" he told a press conference at the end of a senior
\nofficials meeting.<\/p>\n
He said that a joint statement would be endorsed on Monday by
\nBrunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and
\nPhilippines President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\nare gathering here for an annual summit.<\/p>\n
Economic cooperation through BIMP-EAGA was started 10 years
\nago, but various programs under the arrangement were only signed
\nby ministers of the four countries, thus lacking political
\nstrength as part of the effort to boost investment and trade
\nlinkages in the sub-region One example of the difficult problems
\nfaced was the transportation issue, Firman said.<\/p>\n
\"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is currently helping us by
\nconducting a survey for the building of a railway from Sabah in
\nMalaysia to Kalimantan in Indonesia,\" Firman said.<\/p>\n
He also said that the governments of the four countries would
\nhave to issue regulations to help improve coordination so as to
\nattract fresh investment.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-to-endorse-growth-area-program-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}