KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is well positioned to benefit from Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

At the helm, Malaysia is responsible for guiding and helping sustain Southeast Asia’s continued growth, to be realised through its 10-year road map (2016-2025).

The blueprint indirectly provides a golden opportunity for BIMP-EAGA members to enjoy the spillover effects and serves as a “gateway” for potential business opportunities to develop their focus areas.

The importance of Malaysia as an “ambassador” to firm up BIMP-EAGA’s presence in Southeast Asia was discussed at the just-concluded BIMP-EAGA Strategic Planning Meeting 2015 here on Monday and yesterday.

The assembly gathered some 200 delegates, including from government agencies and the private sector, to review and assess the implementation of priority programmes and projects under the sub-region’s blueprint for 2012 to 2016.

Speaking to Bernama, the Philippine’s Mindanao Development Authority’s Investment Promotions and Public Aaffairs director Romeo M. Montenegro said Malaysia could provide a strong impetus for the future development of BIMP-EAGA.

“Malaysia’s chairmanship is very much favourable for us in terms of communication and to deliver important messages to potential investors or skilled labour seeking better opportunities,” he said.

Asian Development Bank principal regional cooperation specialist in the SEA department, Alfredo Perdiguero, said Malaysia plays an important role in linking BIMP-EAGA with the bigger agenda of ASEAN.

He said Malaysia could possibly look into some projects under BIMP-EAGA that contribute to ASEAN as well, such as infrastructure, energy and transportation, which are also part of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

BIMP-EAGA, launched in 1994, is an initiative to close the development gap within its four member countries and across ASEAN, focusing on the underdeveloped and geographically remote areas.

ADB has been supporting the sub-region’s initiative since its inception through technical assistance projects. — Bernama