MALAYSIAN PM TO CHAIR BIMP-EAGA SUMMIT IN THAILAND ON SUNDAY

BY NEWMOND TIBIN

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Tun Razak will lead the four-nation discussions on various initiatives in this
year's Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA) Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand, on Sunday.

Najib is the current chairman of this year's summit that will focus on the
BIMP-EAGA initiatives geared towards making the sub-region a Single Ecotourism
Destination and Food Basket for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (Asean) and the rest of Asia.

A statement issued by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo),
said the Summit would highlight issues such as providing opportunities for
cooperation in food production and small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Development, enhancing Intra-EAGA connectivity, promoting the sub-region as an
ecotourism destination and expanding BIMP-EAGA strategic partnerships.

The meeting would also see presentations and updates on various
accomplishments from the 5th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit, also held in Thailand, on
Feb 28.

In line with the expansion of the sub-region's partnerships, the Framework
of Economic Cooperation (FoEC) between BIMP-EAGA and China was recently
completed and is to be signed tomorrow, a day before the summit, the statement
said.

The areas of cooperation include agriculture, forestry, fisheries,
tourism, exploration of minerals, energy and other natural resources,
infrastructure, human resource development, development of alternative sources
of fuel and finance.

The BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit is an annual gathering of the sub-region's four
Heads of Government to renew commitment and further deepen cooperation among
member countries in various areas.

The summit is also a venue for EAGA Leaders to discuss and exchange views on
various sub-regional issues of mutual concern.

At the Informal Senior Official Meeting (SOM) held in Melaka on Oct 14, the
four EAGA member states met to finalise the agenda and preparations for the
summit.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be joined by
Senator Miriam Santiago, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Foreign Affairs Secretary
Alberto Romulo, Presidential Adviser for Mindanao and Philippine EAGA Signing
Minister Jesus Dureza, MEDCo Chairman Virgilio Leyretana and Trade
Undersecretary Merly Cruz, Philippine senior officials for BIMP-EAGA at the
summit.

Established in 1994, BIMP-EAGA is a four-nation grouping collectively
pursuing sub-regional economic growth.

With an estimated 50 million people spread out across 1.5 million square
kilometres of land in four countries, the BIMP-EAGA is
Asia's largest sub-regional cooperation.

-- BERNAMA