BIMP-EAGA agree priority infrastructure projects

The projects will take place under the BIMP East ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regional cooperation program.

Transport and power projects designed to boost trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region will make up the majority of the 12 projects, which have a total cost of about US$ 1 billion.

The announcement was made during the 6th BIMP-EAGA Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand, where leaders also endorsed the process of identifying, implementing, and reviewing future sub-regional projects, and a technical assistance proposal from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help conduct feasibility studies for priority projects.

Projects planned for 2010 and 2011 include Sarawak (Malaysia) - Kalimantan (Indonesia) power interconnection, expansion of Mindanao (Philippines) ports program, upgrading of the Kuala Lurah (Brunei Darussalam) border crossing facility and the Pontianak-Entikong road link (Indonesia), rehabilitation of Davao-General Santos Road (Philippines), and construction of a bridge over the Pandaruan river between Brunei and Malaysia.

The BIMP-EAGA programme was established in 1994 and is committed to a broad range of initiatives to increase connectivity, boost economic growth and reduce poverty in the sub-region.

BIMP-EAGA countries are "pursuing a road map" consisting of projects to improve transport connectivity, power interconnection, tourism promotion, and trade facilitation.

The programme's long-term goal is to make the sub-region the major food producer for Asia and a "premier ecotourism destination".