DFA chief bats for revitalization of BIMP-EAGA

DAVAO CITY – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert is pushing for the revitalization of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

"Government has not lost focus on the importance of EAGA," Albert told reporters after addressing a conference of the Mindanao Council here.

EAGA, which has a combined market base of over 50 million consumers, comprises the sub-national economies of East Malaysia, East Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Mindanao. It was formally created in 1994 to help improve the backwater economies of its members.

Albert said there are efforts to bring the activities in the EAGA back to the level before the 1997 financial crisis. "As much as possible we hope to see things moving again," Albert said.

The financial crisis that struck Asia in 1997 slowed down the cross-border trading, commercial and tourism activities among the component areas of the EAGA.

The prospects of EAGA, she said, remains bright especially with the recent pledge of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Badawi to intensify its support for the regional economic cooperation.

"We want to hear from the people themselves on what else can government do. We listen to suggestions from the bottom up," she said.

The new foreign affairs secretary said government paves the way for the private sector to paticipate in the EAGA by drawing up the right policies.

She explained EAGA is among the most dynamic geo-economic groupings in Asia such as the one linking Singapore with Riau and Johore.