BIMP-EAGA
Encyclopedia
The East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is a subregional economic cooperation initiative in Southeast Asia
.
, Malaysia and the Philippines
, all of which are member-countries of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The objective behind the creation of BIMP-EAGA is to accelerate economic development in the four countries' “focus areas” which, although geographically distant from their national capitals, are in strategic proximity to each other, in one of the world’s most resource-rich regions. The BIMP-EAGA initiative is market-driven, and operates through a decentralized organization structure involving the four governments and the private sector.
BIMP-EAGA cooperation aims to increase trade, tourism and investments with and outside the subregion by:
It comprises the following focus areas: the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the provinces of Kalimantan
, Sulawesi
, Maluku, West Papua and Papua in Indonesia; the states of Sabah
and Sarawak
, and the federal territory of Labuan
in Malaysia; and the island of Mindanao
and the province of Palawan
in the Philippines.
The subregion has exceptional natural resources, encompassing two of the world’s largest rainforests (in Borneo
and Papua), and biodiverse marine systems in the South China Sea
, Celebes Sea
and Sulu Sea
.
BIMP-EAGA has a long history of participation in the global economy, stretching back to the silk route and spice trade
between Europe, China, and other parts of Asia. EAGA supplies the export markets of ASEAN, North and South Asia, and the Middle East, following the expansion of its air, shipping and land transport links and the development of investment incentives.
food trade.
Fisheries. The subregion is a global center for the production and processing of important marine products, with tuna
and seaweed
among its major exports.
Tourism. EAGA is a leading ecotourism
destination. It has pristine rainforests and vast coral reefs, and is ethnically and culturally diverse. Tourist activities include visits to cultural sites, as well as diving, snorkeling, trekking, mountain climbing, game fishing, and other adventure sports. Many World Heritage Site
s are in EAGA, including Mount Kinabalu
in Sabah, the Tubbataha Reef
off Palawan, and the Mulu Caves of Gunung Mulu National Park
in Sarawak.
Transport and Shipping. EAGA is connected by sea and air to most major cities in Asia. To ensure its competitiveness, the subregion is in the process of upgrading its airports and seaports and implementing multilateral agreements to facilitate cross-border movement.
Energy. Energy resources are abundant in the subregion. In addition to oil, natural gas and coal resources, EAGA offers investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector, taking advantage of geothermal, biomass, hydro and wind power.
The BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center (BIMP-FC) was established in 2003 to ensure coordination among the various organizations engaged in the BIMP-EAGA initiative, and support implementation of activities consonant with the BIMP-EAGA Development Roadmap.
Working Groups formulate action plans for priority sectors, and assist in implementing flagship programs and projects. The Working Groups focus on: air linkages, sea linkages, construction, telecommunications/ICT, agro-industry, fisheries, forestry and environment, energy, joint tourism development, capital formation and financial services, and CIQS (customs, immigration, quarantine and security). The Working Groups are grouped into four Clusters that coordinate and integrate their activities.
The private sector participates in the Working Groups by providing inputs for policy formulation, helping to prioritize projects, and implementing cross-border economic projects. The BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) serves as an umbrella organization for the private sector in the subregion and enjoys “fifth country” status in EAGA cooperation.
Brunei Darussalam
Bandar Seri Begawan
Indonesia
Kalimantan: Balikpapan
, Banjarmasin
, Pontianak
, Samarinda
Sulawesi: Bitung
, Makassar
, Manado
, Pare-Pare
Maluku: Ternate
Papua: Jayapura
, Manokwari
Malaysia
Sabah: Kota Kinabalu
, Lahad Datu
, Sandakan
, Tawau
Sarawak: Bintulu
, Kuching
, Miri
, Sibu
Labuan
Philippines
Mindanao: Davao City
, General Santos, Zamboanga City
, Cotabato City
Palawan: Puerto Princesa
Manado and Tarakan in Indonesia,
Labuan and Miri in Malaysia,
Puerto Princesa and General Santos City in the Philippines.
These are the new FFTR designated points in BIMP-EAGA in addition to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei Darussalam, Balikpapan and Pontianak in Indonesia,Kota Kinabalu and Kuching in Malaysia, as well as Davao and Zamboanga City
in the Philippines
.
Implementation of the Fifth Freedom Traffic rights have been targeted in the
air routes as a result of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Expansion of Air Linkages in BIMP- EAGA during the 3rd BIMP-EAGA Summit recently held in Cebu City on 12 January 2007
As part of the road map full liberalisation of FFTH in BIMP EAGA are schedule by December 2008
Asian Economic Cooperation and Integration: Progress, Prospects, and Challenges, Asian Development Bank (2005) ISBN 971-561-549-X
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Background
BIMP-EAGA was launched in 1994 as a cooperation initiative by Brunei Darussalam, IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, all of which are member-countries of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The objective behind the creation of BIMP-EAGA is to accelerate economic development in the four countries' “focus areas” which, although geographically distant from their national capitals, are in strategic proximity to each other, in one of the world’s most resource-rich regions. The BIMP-EAGA initiative is market-driven, and operates through a decentralized organization structure involving the four governments and the private sector.
BIMP-EAGA cooperation aims to increase trade, tourism and investments with and outside the subregion by:
- Facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services
- Making the best use of common infrastructure and natural resources
- Taking the fullest advantage of economic complementation
Geography
BIMP-EAGA covers a land area of 1.6 million square kilometers and has a combined population of 57.5 million.It comprises the following focus areas: the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; the provinces of Kalimantan
Kalimantan
In English, the term Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, while in Indonesian, the term "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo....
, Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
, Maluku, West Papua and Papua in Indonesia; the states of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
and Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, and the federal territory of Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
in Malaysia; and the island of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
and the province of Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
in the Philippines.
The subregion has exceptional natural resources, encompassing two of the world’s largest rainforests (in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
and Papua), and biodiverse marine systems in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, Celebes Sea
Celebes Sea
The Celebes Sea of the western Pacific Ocean is bordered on the north by the Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea and Mindanao Island of the Philippines, on the east by the Sangihe Islands chain, on the south by Sulawesi, and on the west by Kalimantan in Indonesia...
and Sulu Sea
Sulu Sea
The Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
.
BIMP-EAGA has a long history of participation in the global economy, stretching back to the silk route and spice trade
Spice trade
Civilizations of Asia were involved in spice trade from the ancient times, and the Greco-Roman world soon followed by trading along the Incense route and the Roman-India routes...
between Europe, China, and other parts of Asia. EAGA supplies the export markets of ASEAN, North and South Asia, and the Middle East, following the expansion of its air, shipping and land transport links and the development of investment incentives.
Key Sectors
Agro-industry. Major agriculture products include coconut, palm oil, livestock and poultry, and high-value tropical fruits and vegetables. EAGA areas are focusing on expanded production, complementation, processing and export, to supply specialty markets such as the halalHalal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
food trade.
Fisheries. The subregion is a global center for the production and processing of important marine products, with tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
and seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
among its major exports.
Tourism. EAGA is a leading ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
destination. It has pristine rainforests and vast coral reefs, and is ethnically and culturally diverse. Tourist activities include visits to cultural sites, as well as diving, snorkeling, trekking, mountain climbing, game fishing, and other adventure sports. Many World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s are in EAGA, including Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
in Sabah, the Tubbataha Reef
Tubbataha Reef
Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef located in the Sulu Sea of the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park...
off Palawan, and the Mulu Caves of Gunung Mulu National Park
Gunung Mulu National Park
Gunung Mulu National Park near Miri, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses incredible caves and karst formations in a mountainous equatorial rainforest setting...
in Sarawak.
Transport and Shipping. EAGA is connected by sea and air to most major cities in Asia. To ensure its competitiveness, the subregion is in the process of upgrading its airports and seaports and implementing multilateral agreements to facilitate cross-border movement.
Energy. Energy resources are abundant in the subregion. In addition to oil, natural gas and coal resources, EAGA offers investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector, taking advantage of geothermal, biomass, hydro and wind power.
EAGA Institutions
Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines hold an annual Senior Officials Meeting and Ministers Meeting (SOMM) which serves as the main consultative forum and platform for EAGA cooperation. A National Secretariat for each member-country coordinates in-country and subregional activities.The BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center (BIMP-FC) was established in 2003 to ensure coordination among the various organizations engaged in the BIMP-EAGA initiative, and support implementation of activities consonant with the BIMP-EAGA Development Roadmap.
Working Groups formulate action plans for priority sectors, and assist in implementing flagship programs and projects. The Working Groups focus on: air linkages, sea linkages, construction, telecommunications/ICT, agro-industry, fisheries, forestry and environment, energy, joint tourism development, capital formation and financial services, and CIQS (customs, immigration, quarantine and security). The Working Groups are grouped into four Clusters that coordinate and integrate their activities.
The private sector participates in the Working Groups by providing inputs for policy formulation, helping to prioritize projects, and implementing cross-border economic projects. The BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) serves as an umbrella organization for the private sector in the subregion and enjoys “fifth country” status in EAGA cooperation.
Selected Urban Centers
Brunei DarussalamBandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, with an estimated population 140,000 , is the capital and largest city of the Sultanate of Brunei...
IndonesiaKalimantan: Balikpapan
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city on the eastern coast of the island of Borneo, Indonesia, in the East Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known for its timber, mining, and petroleum export products. Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau , and the Sepinggan International Airport are the main...
, Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City"...
, Pontianak
Pontianak, Indonesia
Pontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. It is a medium-size industrial city on the island of Borneo. Pontianak occupies an area of 107.82 km² in the delta of the Kapuas River...
, Samarinda
Samarinda
Samarinda is the capital of the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The city lies on the banks of the Mahakam River. It is the most populous city in East Kalimantan with a population of 726,223...
Sulawesi: Bitung
Bitung
Bitung is a city on the northern coast of the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It is in the province of North Sulawesi, and faces Lembeh Island and the Lembeh Strait, which is known for its colorful marine life, in particular sea slugs. Bitung has a population of more than 100,000....
, Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
, Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
, Pare-Pare
Pare-Pare
Parepare is a city in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, located on the southwest coast of Sulawesi, about north of the provincial capital of Makassar. A port town, it is one of the major population centers of the Bugis people. The city has a population of 113,615 people, according to a 2004...
Maluku: Ternate
Ternate
Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
Papua: Jayapura
Jayapura
Jayapura City is the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is situated on Yos Sudarso Bay . Its approximate population in 2002 was 200,000....
, Manokwari
Manokwari
Manokwari is a city in Indonesia. It is the largest city and, since 2003, the capital of the province of West Papua, at the western end of New Guinea. The city has many resorts and is a major tourist area. It is one of the seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manokwari–Sorong. It is also the...
MalaysiaKota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
, Lahad Datu
Lahad Datu
Lahad Datu is a town and district located in Tawau Division, in the east of Sabah, eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. It occupies the peninsula on the north side of Darvel Bay. Its population was estimated to be around 118,000 in 1991 and 156,059 in the 2000 census. Lahad Datu is surrounded...
, Sandakan
Sandakan
Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and it is the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo...
, Tawau
Tawau
Tawau is the administrative center of Tawau Division, Malaysia and the third largest town of Sabah after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan.-Geography:...
Sarawak: Bintulu
Bintulu
Bintulu is a coastal town, and the capital of Bintulu District in the Bintulu Division of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is about 650 kilometers from Kuching and about 215 kilometers from either Sibu or Miri....
, Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, Miri
Miri
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
, Sibu
Sibu
Sibu may refer to:*Sibu, Sarawak in Eastern Malaysia*Sibu Division*Sibu , an impact crater on Mars*Pulau Sibu, an island off the eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia*Sibu , name of a goddess in the Bribri tribe, in Costa Rica...
Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
PhilippinesMindanao: Davao City
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
, General Santos, Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
, Cotabato City
Cotabato City
The City of Cotabato is one of the cities of the Philippines located in Mindanao. Cotabato City is an exclave of the SOCCSKSARGEN region found within the boundaries of Maguindanao province, but is independent of that province...
Palawan: Puerto Princesa
BIMP EAGA Air Transport Liberalisation
On April 2007, 4th BIMP-EAGA Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development Cluster Meeting, the EAGA working group on air linkages agreed to grant fifth freedom traffic rights (FFTR) to all passenger and cargo services in the airports ofManado and Tarakan in Indonesia,
Labuan and Miri in Malaysia,
Puerto Princesa and General Santos City in the Philippines.
These are the new FFTR designated points in BIMP-EAGA in addition to Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei Darussalam, Balikpapan and Pontianak in Indonesia,Kota Kinabalu and Kuching in Malaysia, as well as Davao and Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Implementation of the Fifth Freedom Traffic rights have been targeted in the
- Bandar Seri Begawan-Kota Kinabalu-Davao City,
- Bandar Seri Begawan-Kuching-Pontianak,
- Bandar Seri Begawan-Kota Kinabalu and
- Bandar Seri Begawan-Kuching
air routes as a result of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Expansion of Air Linkages in BIMP- EAGA during the 3rd BIMP-EAGA Summit recently held in Cebu City on 12 January 2007
As part of the road map full liberalisation of FFTH in BIMP EAGA are schedule by December 2008
Selected Sources
BIMP-EAGA Integration: Issues and Challenges, Association of Development Research and Training Institutes of Asia and the Pacific (1997) ISBN 978-9679910476Asian Economic Cooperation and Integration: Progress, Prospects, and Challenges, Asian Development Bank (2005) ISBN 971-561-549-X