Saturday, October 27, 2007 Ledesma: BIMP-Eaga By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
FOR many people who are seeking for a real earth-shaking development that emerged from 13 years of existence of the BIMP East Asean Growth Area, there is nothing that this conglomerate of nations has achieved that is worth the headline.
But that is actually a superficial appreciation of what BIMP-Eaga has done through the years. This perception though is not altogether inaccurate. From its inception, the organizers drew a road map that among themselves - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines - they can firm up treaties that would strengthen trade, tourism industry, entrepreneurial partnerships, cultural exchanges, policing border crossings and other initiatives that promote regional cooperation and peace.
I have always watched the meetings of BIMP-Eaga from the sidelines thus I found it difficult to write about the output of the ministers, senior officials meetings, and their technical working teams on the basis of general statements that usually come out at the end of the day.
The BIMP-Eaga meeting in Davao City this week however offers a different perspective. The media are allowed access to information as it happens. There is dynamism in media activity and the drab aura in the past is gone. But then again this assessment is strictly my personal viewpoint.
BIMP-Eaga may not exceed or proximate one's expectation but there had been vital issues tackled by way of cooperative endeavors among the four nations. The fact that there is a continuing dialogue among them is achievement enough. Dialogue is key to regional cooperation and understanding and had addressed animosities that threaten peace and security in Eaga.
If it is of any significance to the food security of nations, we could credit BIMP-Eaga for declaring the Sulu-Sulawesi area as the region's "Corral Resource Triangle." This resource had been identified by BIMP-Eaga as a marine preserve having been identified by the environment management teams as the world's spawning place of tuna.
The ministers too are upbeat with the establishment of transport and communications infrastructures. They are scheduled to sign a memo of understanding that will promote efficient and rapid development of a multi-modal transport system and facilitate the freer movement of peopled and goods across the borders of the region.
The demonstration of collaborative efforts of Eaga ministers provides motivation and assurance for cross-investments and partnerships among nations in the region. San Miguel Corporation, I heard, is investing and expanding its poultry operations in Borneo. Yellow corn, which is a large component of poultry feeds, is now quietly exported by Indonesia to Davao. BIMP also wants to have a bigger share of international tourists and there is now a definite move to come up with a BIMP-Eaga tourism promotion plan.
But what I consider one of the significant developments that had transpired in the week-long 15th BIMP-Eaga Senior Officials Meeting and 12th Ministerial Meeting is the signing of a Joint Declaration of the participants of the 2nd Workshop of the BIMP-Eaga Media and Communicators Association (BEMCA) which was held at Marco Polo Hotel last Thursday.
The signatories agreed that they play a vital role in helping the economic and social development objectives of BIMP-Eaga. With that commitment, the BIMP-Eaga meetings will henceforth enjoy a better perspective and more in-depth coverage.
