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HISTORY
1. In 1992, then President Fidel V. Ramos of the Philippines
proposed the expansion of economic cooperation in the border
areas with Indonesia and Malaysia and with Brunei Darussalam
in a major economic and diplomatic initiative in the ASEAN.
The leaders of Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia favorably
received this Philippine initiative that eventually led to
the creation of a subregional growth area named the Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth
Area or BIMP-EAGA. BIMP-EAGA was formally launched on March
24, 1994 in Davao City in Mindanao, Philippines.
2. The growth area initially comprised the entire sultanate
of Brunei Darussalam; the provinces of East and West
Kalimantan, and North Sulawesi in Eastern Indonesia; the
federal states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the federal
territory of Labuan in Eastern Malaysia; and the islands of
Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines. Indonesia later
expanded its participation to include all provinces in
Kalimantan and Sulawesi, the Maluku island chain and Irian
Jaya. EAGA covers a land area of approximately 1.54 million
square kilometers and is home to about 55 million people.
3. With the exception of Brunei Darussalam, the component
areas of EAGA share common characteristics of considerable
geographic distance from their capital states and
resource-based economies that are less developed than the
capital regions. BIMP-EAGA, thus, was a shared strategy of
the four participating governments in addressing the
imbalance in economic development. It should be understood
that the prevailing economic stability, optimistic forecasts
for higher sustained economic and political growth and the
growing trend towards regional economic integration in ASEAN
prompted and encouraged the four governments to undertake
this paradigm shift that focuses on the social and economic
development of the less developed and more remote
territories.
GOALS AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
4. The vision of BIMP-EAGA is the realization of socially
acceptable and sustainable economic development, which leads
to the full participation of EAGA in the ASEAN development
process. Its immediate goal is to increase trade,
investments and tourism in the subregion by facilitating the
(i) freer movement of people, goods and services; (ii)
development of vital infrastructure in the subregion; and
(iii) coordination of the management of ecosystems and
common resources to ensure sustainable development. The
short to medium term goal is to ensure that EAGA becomes a
major location in ASEAN for high value-added agro-industry
and natural resource-based manufacturing and high-grade
tourism, and in the longer term to ensure that non-resource
based manufacturing is established in the subregion.
5. EAGA’s strategic objective is to accelerate economic
development, improve export competitiveness and enhance the
attractiveness of EAGA to local and foreign investment based
on (i) economic complementarities, (ii) shared natural
resources, information and technology, (iii) joint action to
cater to an increase in demand, (iv) joint action to
overcome constraints, and (v) the specialization and
regionalization of production. To achieve its goals, the
founders of BIMP-EAGA recognized the need for strong
public-private sector partnership in development and agreed
that growth of the subregion must be market-driven and
private sector-led.
6. In 1996, ADB carried out an Investigative Study in the
BIMP-EAGA to identify the existing and potential
opportunities for economic cooperation in the subregion. The
Study shared the optimism for the future of the subregion as
it identified a wide range of economic complementation.
Efficiently harnessed, these economic complementation
opportunities could transform BIMP-EAGA into a major
investment destination in ASEAN for agro-industry, natural
resource-based manufacturing, and tourism. The result of the
Study is the formulation of an EAGA Development Strategy
that involves more than 150 policy, program, and project
initiatives that would enable EAGA to achieve its full
potentials.
PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE SECTOR: ROLES DEFINED
7. At the outset, the roles of the private sector and public
sector were clearly defined. The private sector is
BIMP-EAGA’s engine of growth while the public sector is the
enabler or facilitator of this growth.
8. The founders of BIMP-EAGA recognized the vital role of
the private sector in achieving the development objectives
of the growth area. It is after all, the private sector that
and eventually decides and actually invests in projects that
fuel the engines of development. Thus, the economic
development strategy of the subregion is directed at
enhancing the ability of the private sector to take
advantage and realize EAGA-wide investment opportunities.
9. As enabler and facilitator of growth, the public sector
is expected to carry out two major activities:
a) To create a general environment that is conducive to
economic cooperation and to empower the private sector by
providing the following:
- A facilitative framework created by coordinating and
harmonizing public policy to establish a conducive and
unified investment climate.
- Adequate physical infrastructure needed to link the
businesses of the subregion and to improve their access to
regional and global markets.
- Effective commercial infrastructure by providing finance,
information, and skills to improve entrepreneurial capacity
and capability.
b) To directly encourage the realization of cross-border
trading and investment opportunities through specific
policies, programs, and projects that provide for increased
investments in the productive sectors (e.g. agriculture,
fisheries, forestry, tourism, and industrial development.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES
10. To operationalize the BIMP-EAGA initiative, a
subregional institutional framework was established. The
organizational and institutional structures were intended to
effectively support private sector participation in the
subregion’s development activities.
11. The principal mechanism for consultations between and
among the participating countries is the Senior Officials
and Ministers Meeting or the SOMM. The SOMM provides the
strategic directions and general policy guidelines in
addition to drawing the attention of the central governments
to the development requirements of the focal areas. To date,
13 Senior Official Meetings and 10 Ministers Meetings have
been held.
12. Eleven[1]
Working Groups representing the priority
sectors of cooperation were established to (i) identify the
opportunities and constraints to cooperation development,
(ii) formulate the action plans to accelerate growth in the
subregion, and (iii) provide the strategic direction in the
identified sectors of cooperation. The WG is the core
mechanism at the operational level. It is composed of
representatives from the appropriate government agencies
both at the national and subregional levels and individuals
and groups representing the private sector from the focal
areas. The WGs provide the flexibility to address a wide
range of issues and demands. It is at the level of the WGs
where diverse interests, issues, and priorities of the
public and private sectors converge and where project
priorities are identified. Thirteen WGs were created
initially but have subsequently been reduced to eleven as a
result of the merger of some WGs. Each Working Group has a
designated lead country.
13. Consistent with the decision to adopt a decentralized
structure, no central secretariat was initially established
in BIMP-EAGA. Instead, each participating country designated
a ministry or agency that would act as their respective
National Secretariat. The National Secretariat is the focal
point for the exchange of information and coordination of
programs related to the growth area and is tasked with
ensuring that in-country initiatives are maintained.
National Secretariats also provide administrative support to
the Ministers and Senior Officials.
THE BIMP-EAGA BUSINESS COUNCIL (BEBC)
14. In recognition of the crucial role and participation of
the private sector in accelerating the successful
implementation of the subregion’s programs and projects, the
Ministers, during their inaugural meeting, endorsed the
creation of the East ASEAN Business Council (EABC). The
establishment of EABC in 1994 was the result of several
private sector initiatives around the growth area that
started as early as the late 1970s. The creation of
BIMP-EAGA prompted the creation of a formal and unified
organization for the private sector to oversee their
interests and concerns. Thus, EABC was meant to act as the
voice of the private sector, raising their concerns during
WG meetings and the SOMM, as well as envoy to the EAGA
governments. Subsequently, the Minister Meeting accorded
EABC the status of official private sector representative in
BIMP-EAGA.
15. Membership in the EABC is open, without restrictions to
nationality, to individuals, and organizations that play a
role in the economic development of EAGA. EABC is led by a
Board composed of representatives from private sector
organizations from each of the four member countries. In
2003, BEBC successfully carried out its organizational
restructuring. With the restructuring, BEBC is now
re-focusing its attention and emphasis towards the
development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It also
has a permanent secretariat that manages the day-to-day
operations of the organization.
16. The primary objectives of the BEBC are the following:
- Promote economic development and other business activities
in all the participating subregions of BIMP-EAGA in support
of the interests of its members and for the greater
prosperity and welfare of EAGA citizens;
- Foster closer relationships and economic cooperation among
business organizations in the EAGA;
- Deal with issues of common concern and to disseminate
information of common interest to its members;
- Make representation on behalf of the EABC’s members with
the involved governments and to provide liaison between
businesses, other economic entities and relevant government
authorities within EAGA; and
- Advocate for policies, plans, projects, and regulatory
changes that will enhance the economic development of the
subregion.
17. The private sector, through BEBC, actively
participates in the deliberation and resolution of economic
issues at the Clusters level. BEBC has also been
instrumental in facilitating business arrangements among the
different private sectors in the BIMP-EAGA. To further
enhance interaction in the subregion, EAGA-wide private
sector organizations at the Working Group Clusters (WGC)
levels were established. These include the BIMP-EAGA Tourism
Council under the Joint Tourism Development WG, the
BIMP-EAGA Shipping Association under the Sea Links WG, and
the EAGA Construction Consortium under the
Construction/Construction Materials WG. These sector-based
organizations facilitate the exchange of information on
subregional trade and investment opportunities within their
respective sectors. They also organize trade fairs,
investment conferences and business seminars, which
strengthen the networking capacity, that in turn help to
improve the trade and investment relationships among
individuals and groups in the concerned sectors.
18. In 1997, BEBC was given fifth country status, which
reinforced the private sector’s standing as equal partner in
the development of BIMP-EAGA. The fifth country status also
earned for EABC the privilege of organizing an independent
private sector delegation during SOMMs and a separate
meeting with the Ministers.
WORKING GROUP CLUSTERS
19. As part of the efforts to revitalize cooperation
development in the BIMP-EAGA, the 11th SOM and 8th MM held
last September 2003 at Davao City, Philippines agreed to
implement reforms in the subregion’s institutional
structure. Two new mechanisms were created, namely, the
Working Group Clusters and the BIMP Facilitation Center.
These mechanisms were instituted to strengthen the
coordination of strategies and initiatives in the subregion.
Strengthening coordination and consolidation mechanisms was
anticipated to significantly contribute to accelerating
cooperation activities and bringing BIMP-EAGA back on its
development track.
20. The Working Group Clusters are composed of related or
similar working groups. An objective for the creation of the
Clusters is to provide a mechanism to strengthen the
coordination and consolidation of BIMP-EAGA’s development
initiatives, particularly at the operational level. Since
the Working Groups are the core operational mechanism of
BIMP-EAGA, improving coordination among the Working Groups
is anticipated to enhance the identification and
prioritization of strategic and high-impact projects
(BIMP-EAGA flagship projects), which in turn is expected to
facilitate the formulation of an integrated plan of action
that would help accelerate the implementation of these
flagship projects. Working Group Clusters, thus, would the
mechanism for BIMP-EAGA to regain its cooperation momentum
by ensuring that the identification, prioritization and
implementation as well as the monitoring of projects are
better structured and coordinated. Following is the matrix
of the Working Group Clusters:
BIMP FACILITATION CENTER
21. The fully decentralized structure earlier adopted by
BIMP-EAGA provided the flexibility that the growth area
needed in its formative and organizational stage. However,
as BIMP-EAGA grows in breadth and depth and as the subregion
identifies and implements more projects, the need for a more
central coordinating unit will be increasingly felt. On
hindsight and as the experience of BIMP-EAGA with the 1997
financial crisis has shown, the growth momentum in the
subregion might have been sustained had there been a unit or
mechanism that is centrally coordinating and facilitating
the development activities at the subregional level.
Recognizing the need for tighter coordination mechanisms,
the four countries agreed to modify the decentralized
structure and created the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center.
22. The BIMP-FC is a concerted effort by the four countries
to revive the BIMP EAGA initiative. The objective for the
creation of the BIMP-FC is to accelerate regional
cooperation in BIMP-EAGA by establishing more structured
institutional coordination and project facilitation
mechanisms. The objectives and rationale of the
establishment of BIMP FC is to: i) strengthen coordination
between institutions in the sub region; ii) provide the
institutional framework to support private sector
activities; iii) improve facilitation and implementation of
priority projects; iv) establish monitoring and evaluation
of projects and agreements; and iv) enhance information
dissemination within and outside the sub region. The overall
thrust of the organization is to establish BIMP-FC as the
focal point for participating governments, stakeholder
agencies, and especially the private sector. It would also
provide the window for third countries and other development
partners to participate in the economic development of
BIMP-EAGA.
23. Under its Terms of Reference, the BIMP-FC shall (i)
undertake jointly activities in investment promotion and
business networking; (ii) create an information and
database; (iii) actively involve and coordinate the
promotion of events; (iv) continously undertake monitoring
and evaluation activities; and (v) draw the attention of
relevant entities to problems raised by the private sectors.
The terms of reference also provides BIMP-FC with the
mandate to initiate and undertake activities to effectively
promote trade, investments, and tourism in the sub region.
More importantly, BIMP-FC’s directive is to ensure that the
structures and mechanisms in the sub region promote the
market-driven and private sector-led strategy of BIMP-EAGA.
24. The BIMP FC is public sector-led and will complement the
efforts of the EABC in coordinating trade and investment
activities, in facilitating the implementation and
monitoring of priority projects. BIMP-FC is the
institutional framework established to provide stronger
support for private sector activities.
25. BIMP-FC commenced operations on 19 August 2003 and has
its headquarters at the Sabah Trade Center in Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah. The Federal Government of Malaysia and the State
Government of Sabah jointly hosted the BIMP-FC from 1
August, 2003 – 31 December, 2005 while the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) provided technical assistance for its
institutional and capacity building for the period of 21
months, from July 2003 – April, 2005. Currently, the German
Technical Corporation (GTZ) is providing technical
assistance of the BIMP-EAGA institutions which included the
institutional strengthening of the BIMP-FC.
26. The 12th BIMP-EAGA SOM/9th MM approved the BIMP-FC to
serve as the secretariat to the BIMP-EAGA SOM/MM and would
play a central coordinating role in BIMP-EAGA. During the
13th BIMP-EAGA SOM/10th MM on 19 – 22 September, 2005, the
BIMP-EAGA government committed to provide funding to
continue the operation and strengthening of the BIMP-FC.
27. Linking the National Secretariats, Working Groups,
Working Group Clusters, BEBC, and other relevant public and
private sector organizations has been identified as the core
function of the BIMP FC. BIMP FC is expected to provide
coordination and facilitation of cooperation
activities/programs that are beyond the scope of the
National Secretariats, which essentially covers all
activities involving two of the four participating
countries. The immediate strengthening activities were
focused on the implementation of the Working Group Clusters
where the BIMP-FC has been doing consultations with the
National Secretariats relative to establishing the terms of
reference, agenda of meeting, and the detailed mechanics of
implementation of the working group clusters. At the same
time that internal institutional linkages are being
strengthened, activities towards creating networks of
external partners and relationships are also being
undertaken.
28. A core activity of the BIMP-FC is establishing a
capacity to undertake effective communications and
information dissemination within the sub region, and
ensuring reliable and timely information is delivered to
interested development partners and investors from outside
the growth area. Collection of basic information and
macroeconomic profiles of the EAGA focal areas is currently
on-going. As part of the effort to rebuild the image of BIMP
EAGA as a viable investment and tourist destination,
consultations were made with the journalists and media
practitioners in the BIMP region. The consultations and
Media Workshop organized by the BIMP FC led to the formation
of the BIMP EAGA Media and Communicators Association.
29. BIMP FC priority activities are to improve coordination
mechanisms, establish project facilitation mechanisms,
promote external trade and improve information gathering and
dissemination within and outside the sub region.
GAINING, LOSING AND REGAINING MOMENTUM
EARLY GAINS
30. The commitment of the four participating governments
enabled EAGA to demonstrate results within the first three
years. Early gains were made possible because of the strong
efforts among the government leaders to immediately identify
and address the structural impediments to growth in the EAGA.
Between 1994 and 1997, several national policies were
modified and cooperative agreements were facilitated to
ensure the success of the cooperation initiative.
31. Among others, the four governments agreed to liberalize
the transport sector to allow for greater mobility of
people, goods, and services. The result is the opening of
new and direct commercial air and sea links between major
urban areas in the subregion. Several airport and seaport
infrastructure facilities throughout EAGA were upgraded to
accommodate the expected increase in passenger and cargo
traffic. To facilitate intra-subregion trade, Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia and the Philippines agreed to
establish uniform port tariffs in selected ports. To support
tourism and promote travel within the subregion, policies on
travel and exit taxes were likewise modified. Specifically,
Indonesia and the Philippines waived travel taxes for travel
within EAGA and also streamlined travel procedures and
documentary requirements. In recognizing that accelerating
the air transport sector integration will have a far greater
impact on economic integration in the sub region, the 1st
Transport Ministers Meeting of the Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Philippines held in June, 2006 at Brunei
Darussalam agreed to work towards innovative and dynamic
ways to further liberalize passenger and air cargo services
in the services. The most significant outcome of the meeting
was the decision to designate fifth freedom traffic right
airports in BIMP-EAGA for BIMP-EAGA carriers. It was agreed
that each EAGA member country to allow multiple designation
of airlines and respectively designate two entry points by
end of 2006 and subsequently all EAGA entry points by 2008
with fifth freedom traffic rights for scheduled passenger
and cargo services.
32. Another major area of early accomplishments is in
telecommunication. Major telecommunication firms operating
in the EAGA areas implemented substantial tariff reductions
by up to 20 percent on long distance calls within the
subregion. The reduced rates enabled greater interaction
among businesses within the subregion.
33. In addition to these tangible results, the different
clusters/working groups, representing the priority areas of
cooperation in EAGA, have identified the constraints
affecting their sectors and were already examining measures
to eliminate these constraints. At the operating level,
discussions about harmonization of trade and investment
policies have been ongoing.
34. The private sector was responsive to the early
initiatives of the governments, especially in the tourism
and transport sectors. Of the productive sectors in EAGA,
tourism initially gained the most as evidenced by the
significant increase in both domestic and cross-border
investments in hotel and tourism-related facilities and
activities. The BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council was established by
the private sector to undertake joint tourism promotions of
EAGA. EAGA-wide cultural events, trade fairs, tour exchanges
and sports events were undertaken by the various tourism
organizations in the subregion to create awareness not only
of the area’s world-class destinations but also of the
opportunities for investments.
FACTORS AFFECTING SLOWDOWN
35. By the end of 1996, there was optimism that BIMP-EAGA
was on the verge of a take-off. BIMP-EAGA cooperation
activities had quickly developed and the prevailing economic
stability and the optimistic forecasts for continued and
sustained economic growth for the participating countries,
in particular, and the ASEAN region, in general, had
provided an environment conducive for pursuing development.
Implicitly and based on the then prevailing economic
situation, it was assumed that adequate public and private
sector financial resources would be readily available to
undertake and complete priority infrastructure projects. It
was further assumed that the infrastructure-related projects
would spur greater domestic and foreign private sector
investments.
36. The 1997 Asian financial crisis seriously disrupted the
growth momentum in EAGA. As the economic environment in
Southeast Asia generally weakened, governments refocused
their attention to national issues, especially those
affecting their traditional financial and industrial
centers. In many cases, the decline in government spending
on infrastructure effectively slowed down regional
development and consequently slowed down implementation of
several EAGA initiatives as well.
37. The worst recorded El Niño phenomenon that occurred in
1998 brought severe drought, forest fires, and the haze. All
these contributed to sharp declines in the largely
agriculture-based economies of many subregional focal areas.
Changes in the political leadership in Indonesia and the
Philippines also contributed to delaying discussions and
agreements on the coordination and harmonization of
investment and trade policies in EAGA, particularly the
harmonization of customs, immigration, and quarantine rules,
regulations and procedures.
38. The BIMP-EAGA private sector made up mostly of small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) also refocused their efforts on
minimizing the impact of the crisis on their businesses by
downsizing and/or postponing expansion programs. With
reduced government support, the private sector’s capacity to
spur cooperation activities in the subregion weakened.
39. Towards the end of the decade, security concerns emerged
because of kidnapping and ethnic violence in some parts of
the BIMP-EAGA. The global threat of terrorism compounded the
security problems and the entire subregion suffered by
perception and association resulting in declines in tourism,
further displacement of trade and loss of investor
confidence.
40. The most serious challenge for BIMP-EAGA, however, was
the perception of waning interest of the four participating
governments to pursue the economic cooperation initiative.
REVITALIZING THE BIMP-EAGA COOPERATION INITIATIVE
41. By the end of 2000, it became evident that the BIMP-EAGA
countries have significantly recovered from the effects of
the economic crises. As economic conditions improved,
opportunities opened anew for focusing attention on the less
developed areas. The emerging peace and order problems
within BIMP-EAGA and its strong links to the widespread
poverty in some parts of the subregion further influenced
the decision to re-examine the role and potential
contribution of the economic cooperation scheme to the
resolution of the conflict.
42. Given the urgent need to address the poverty and
security issues in the subregion, the leaders of the
BIMP-EAGA countries expressed their commitment and support
to revitalizing economic cooperation activities in the
subregion.
43. Support also came from the leaders of ASEAN during the
7th ASEAN Leaders Summit held in Brunei Darussalam in
November 2001. At this Summit, ASEAN leaders called for
moves and actions to revitalize cooperation activities in
BIMP-EAGA, in particular, and other subregional growth
areas, in general as part of the overall initiative to
integrate the region’s economies. At the same time, the
Asian Development Bank was appointed as the Regional
Development Advisor for BIMP-EAGA. On 7 October 2003, the
first BIMP-EAGA Leaders Meeting was held in Bali, Indonesia
where the leaders reaffirmed the importance of BIMP-EAGA in
the context of bridging the development gap in ASEAN. The
EAGA Leaders also called for the establishment of more
attractive trade and investment regimes in the subregion as
well as the accelerated promotion of BIMP-EAGA external
trade. Among others, the EAGA Leaders welcomed the support
of the ASEAN dialogue partners in realizing the economic
development goals of the subregion.
44. Efforts are being carried out to accelerate the
realization of the objectives of the BIMP-EAGA cooperation
initiative. A reassessment of the current approaches and
methodologies to cooperation development was carried out,
new strategies formulated, and initial measures are being
implemented to enable the subregion to more effectively
respond to the emerging internal and external challenges to
regional cooperation.
45. Institutional reforms have been initiated and currently
being implemented. Institutional linkages and stronger
collaboration with development partners, particularly the
ASEAN Secretariat and the Asian Development Bank, are being
established. Development strategies and directions are also
being strengthened. Among the strategies being adopted
include improving transport linkages both within and outside
of the subregion; consolidating the subregion’s comparative
advantages in the agro-industry and tourism sectors;
promoting the development of external trade; and instituting
more attractive trade and investment regimes. BIMP-EAGA
flagship projects are being identified focusing on projects
that would create the most impact on the subregion’s
economic development in short- and medium-terms. Direct
trade and investment relations with ASEAN’s dialogue
partners are being explored. SME participation in the
development activities in BIMP-EAGA is being strengthened.
The harmonization of customs, immigration and quarantine
rules, regulations, and procedures is being accelerated.
Clearly, BIMP-EAGA is back on the development track.
46. The Leaders during the 2nd BIMP-EAGA Summit held in
Kuala Lumpur on 11 December, 2006 adopted the BIMP-EAGA
Roadmap to Development 2006 – 2010 which guides the
direction of BIMP-EAGA to guide the direction of BIMP-EAGA
for the next five (5) years in pursuing its development goal
in increasing trade, investments and tourism within and
outside EAGA. To achieve the development goals and targets,
BIMP-EAGA will pursue the following strategic objectives and
sub-regional cooperation measures:
- Promoting intra- and extra-EAGA trade, investments and
tourism in selected priority sectors, namely: agro-industry
and natural resources; tourism, transport, infrastructure
and ICT with particular emphasis on SME development by
promoting and facilitating cross border flow of goods and
people and improving the flow of trade, investment and
tourism information
- Coordinate the management of natural resources for
sustainable development of the sub-region
- Coordinate the planning and implementation of
infrastructure support to economic integration, with active
participation of the private sectors
- Strengthen BIMP-EAGA institutional structures and
mechanisms for effective implementation of the EAGA Roadmap
and Action Plan.
47. The interest shown by the ASEAN Dialogue among others
Japan and China and other International Organizations such
as AusAID and German Technical Cooperation created
opportunity for BIMP-EAGA to expand its market. BIMP-EAGA
will continue to explore mechanism to expand trade,
investments and tourism with external partners through
establishing a regular dialogue between the BIMP EAGA public
and private sectors with the external partners and their
private sectors as well as tapping the Development Partners
as potential investors in the sub region and their markets
for EAGA identified projects, products and services through
trade, investment and tourism promotion activities, business
matching. Currently, BIMP-EAGA Development Partners are
Northern Territory of Australia and The People Republic of
China (P.R.C).
[1] BIMP-EAGA originally had 13 Working Groups: Agro-Industry
Development, Fisheries Cooperation Development, Joint
Tourism Development, Construction and Construction
Materials, Air Linkages, Sea Linkages, Telecommunications,
Energy, Human Resource Development, People Mobility,
Forestry Development, and Environment Management. The number
of working groups was reduced to 11 with the merger of the
HRD and People Mobility Working Groups and the Forestry and
Environment Management Working Groups.
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