BIMP-EAGA to hold investment, tourism fair

JAKARTA (JP): The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines -- East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) will hold its first Tourism, Trade and Investment Fair next month to boost development.

Director General of Tourism of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Andi Mappi Sammeng said here yesterday the event would be held in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan from Oct. 27 to Oct. 31.

"It will give us a chance to look at investment opportunities, increase our trade volume and promote the tourist sector in the eastern part of Indonesia," Andi said.

Minister of Production and Distribution, Hartarto, is scheduled to open the event, which will include seminars on tourism, trade and investment opportunities, business meetings, as well as an exhibition.

A ministerial-level meeting would be also held to further strengthen subregional cooperation, he said, adding that senior officials of the four countries would also hold a meeting preceding the ministerial meeting.

The exhibition will also feature sales representatives who will display their products in the 100 booths available, each costing US$1,000.

Of the 100 booths, 50 are allocated for Indonesian representatives from 10 provinces in the eastern part of the country, while the remaining booths will be occupied by Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

Indonesian provinces participating in the exhibition include Kalimantan, Sulawesi's four provinces, Maluku and Irian Jaya.

Andi said Malaysia would promote its two states, Sabah and Serawak and the Philippines would promote the South Philippines.

The fair, organized by convention organizer Setia Mice, is expected to draw 100 buyers from 10 countries.

They include Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. India and South Africa are also potential buyers at the forum.

Andi said the alliance had a lot to offer to the international tourist market.

"Our strongest points are our natural sites and indigenous cultures," he said.

Current trends in tourism show a large interest in adventurous and unspoiled nature.

"The eastern part of Indonesia, among others, has Poso Lake and Bunaken marine park in Sulawesi, as well as the unique culture of indigenous tribes like Dayak, Irian, and Toraja," he said.

In trade, he said commodities such as coffee, tea, cocoa, and shrimps were also potential for increased exports.

Andi said the alliance planned to hold the event annually, but it had not decided where the next one would be held.

The BIMP-EAGA cooperation, which includes eastern parts of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the southern part of the Philippines, is one of the subregional cooperations initiated by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to jointly develop neighboring areas.

Since it was formed, about 118 memorandums of understanding have been signed between BIMP's four members, 44 of which include Indonesia, but so far only eight have been realized. (das)