BIMP-EAGA to hold investment, tourism fair

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)