INDONESIA TO CHAIR BIMP-EAGA TRANSPORT MINISTERS' CONFERENCE

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will hand over chair of the 4th
BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia,-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area)
Transport Ministers' Conference to Indonesia when the event is held Thursday in
Menado, Indonesia.

Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri will make the handover to
the new chairman, Indonesia's Transport Minister Jusman Syafil Djamal.

"The conference will provide an opportunity for the BIMP-EAGA countries to
exchange views and information concerning the status of transport infrastructure
facilities and progress in logistics services with the aim of streamlining
cooperation," Rahim said before leaving for Menado Tuesday.

"It will also look into opportunities to step up transport integration in
the region to promote economic growth and trade," he said.

Rahim said that cooperation in various areas involving air, land and sea
transport was being undertaken.

He said an example in air transport was Malaysia's low cost carrier AirAsia
launching the Kuala Lumpur-Menado, Kuala Lumpur-Makasar, Kuching-Jakarta and
Kota Kinabalu-Jakarta services in the region.

The land transport sector has seen progress in bus services on Borneo Island
area while for the sea transport sector, there has been exchange of information
on port development and shipping movement in BIMP-EAGA, he added.

Rahim also said that BIMP-EAGA has strengthened cooperation among Malaysia,
Brunei, the Philippines and Indoneia, helping to catalyse closer economic
cooperation among Asean members.
-- BERNAMA