Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi continues to encourage the collaboration of four countries, namely, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, to improve logistical connectivity.
This collaboration is expected to further strengthen economic competitiveness among the four ASEAN sub-regional countries within the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) cooperation framework.
“Our passion is to make connectivity between the four countries better. I am optimistic that good communication and collaboration will grow the regional economy,” said the Minister of Transportation while attending the opening of the BIMP-EAGA Maritime 2023 meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday (22/2/2023).
The Minister of Transportation said that these four ASEAN sub-regional countries are geographically very strategic because they are in the middle of the logistics vortex of Europe and China.
According to him, this strategic position needs to be utilized by making various real programs to increase competitiveness and improve logistics efficiency.
“Sea transportation is the backbone of international trade. Therefore, the mandate of the four ASEAN countries is to collaborate to improve existing ports so that they can ultimately create a world logistics power,” said the Minister of Transportation.
On the same occasion, the Head of Logistics and Supply Chain for the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Akbar Djohan, said that the BIMP-EAGA collaboration was expected to help the four countries face challenges in infrastructure, policy and regulation, which are still common in the ASEAN region.
Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Pelindo, Arif Suhartono, expressed his hope that the BIMP-EAGA collaboration could solve the various challenges. In addition, he hopes that each country can also have an agreement and collaborate better to provide added value, especially in sea transportation.
The BIMP-EAGA collaboration was formed in 1994 to increase economic cooperation, trade, investment, and tourism through cross-border cooperation in the ASEAN sub-region.
The collaboration is a cooperation between governments (G to G) and the private sector (B to B) to reduce logistics costs and create a sustainable and attractive economy for its member countries.
The Ministry of Transportation has been actively involved in several discussions held by working groups formed for the land, sea, and air transportation sector.
Developing the Makassar New Port is one form of commitment to increasing maritime connectivity between the four countries.
Also present at the event were the Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation, Capt. Hendri Ginting; Director of Transportation Management Malaysia, Rory James Doyle; President of CILT Indonesia Iman Gandi; and Chairman of BIMP-EAGA Business Council, Sayid Irwan.
About The Event
BIMP-EAGA Maritime 2023 is held by state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo on February 21-23, 2023.
BIMP-EAGA is a cooperation initiative established to strengthen the nations’ economies and integrate the regions in east ASEAN.
Six discussion sessions based on the round table model will be held to discuss investment opportunities within BIMP-EAGA’s Economic Corridor, success and leadership elements, sub-regional collaboration, innovation for harbor infrastructure, and transformation strategy.
In addition, a trade exhibition from 40 companies as well as local and international sponsors, will be held to showcase the latest technologies, products, and services related to harbor and transportation for shipping and logistics.
