KUCHING: The BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Sarawak has echoed Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan’s call for stronger collaboration among member countries in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
In a statement, the council pointed out that the vision of shared prosperity and growth for the region can only be realised if each country is willing to identify the strength of each other and work to collaborate based on shared strength.
“In the borderless world of international trade, BIMP-EAGA should be looking at how to achieve growth by positioning itself against the world. Collectively, the BIMP-EAGA has much to offer to the world as the sub region is endowed with not just natural resources and biodiversity but also rich heritage and culture,” it said.
On the issue of working together as one, it emphasised on the need for BIMP-EAGA to relook at developing actionable plans for the region that can be implemented in tandem, together for the growth levels of the region as highlighted by Awang Tengah the potential of establishing Special Economic Zones (SEZ) at key gateways, particularly at Tebedu-Entikong, to boost cross-border trade, unlock resource development, and integrate supply chains for the shared benefit of Sarawak and Kalimantan.
“A lot has changed since the inception of BIMP-EAGA in 1994. EAGA being the ‘poorer’ sub region was set up as the East Asian Growth Area as they are lacking in infrastructure and connectivity resulting in slower growth.
“Until today, the area still requires a lot of investment, especially connectivity in transportation and communication. In this aspect, the private sector represented by Business Council members have highlighted to the government that barriers such as high cost of transportation that causes local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to lose out on e-commerce requires special incentives from the government in an ‘export led driven initiative,” it said.
Touching on the issue of Kalimantan-Sarawak border, it said that the BIMP-EAGA Business Council Malaysia is most disappointed that after 10 years of continuous consultations at the working level, bilateral meetings as well as meetings between the Prime Minister of Malaysia as well as President of Republic of Indonesia, the issue remains unsolved.
“Until today, Malaysian companies are still not allowed to export any cargo via Tebedu-Entikong. The fact that cargo from Sarawak is not allowed to enter Kalimantan via Entikong also includes cargo from Brunel.
“In this matter, the practice of unfair trade by the Indonesian side has been highlighted by Business Council Sarawak and supported by the whole Business Council members of the four countries of which a protest note has been submitted to the just concluded Senior Official Meeting as well as Ministerial Meeting in KK Sabah this Thursday,” it said.
Having said this, the Business Council Sarawak stressed that it is time for this long outstanding issue of over a decade be solved in line with the spirit of BIMP-EAGA and Asean.
“Free movement of goods is also in line with the bilateral agreement between both countries such as the Border Trade Agreement (BTA) that was renewed and signed by both countries in June 2023.
“The Business Council looks forward to concrete actions and decisions to be made by Indonesia as the reason given that the ‘issue’ being looked at has passed its use-by-date,” it said.
