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Leaders of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and
Thailand have agreed to boost cooperation in two sub-regional areas to
help accelerate their economic development and narrow development gaps
within the grouping.
In a joint statement, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Malaysian
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Thai Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont acknowledged the importance of the
Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand growth triangle (IMT-GT) as a sub-regional
growth area and agreed to adopt the draft IMT-GT road map.
"The road map will guide the stakeholders in the implementation of
doable, practical and sustainable strategies, programs and projects
that will benefit the communities of the member countries," said a
joint statement from the leaders.
While specific issues have yet to be elaborated on in the road map, a
leaked copy of the draft says the road map will be implemented over a
period of five years commencing in 2007.
The leaders' second joint statement was a declaration on sub-regional
development involving Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
in the East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
The Asian Development Bank has said it fully supports the realization
of the road map targets to revitalize both growth areas.
The leaders of BIMP-EAGA will also witness soon the signing of a
memorandum of understanding on the expansion of air links between the
four countries.
"The provision of air services in the BIMP-EAGA would result in ...
greater accessibility and movement of peoples in the area ... attract
investors to locate themselves in the sub-region and spur intraregional
trade and tourism," the draft memorandum of understanding states.
The agreement would, for instance, promote low fares for flights
between points in one country and those in another by 2008.
Cities like Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei, Balikpapan and Pontianak in
Indonesia, Kota Kinibalu and Kuching in Malaysia, and Davao city and
Zamboanga city in the Philippines would eventually be linked by cheap
flights.
"Because of the agreement, there will be flights between those cities
so that people and goods can move more freely," an official from the
Indonesian Transportation Ministry who attended the discussions on the
draft, but has requested anonymity, told the Post.
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