Southeast Asian bloc boosts trade, energy, and connectivity
At a key summit in Malaysia, leaders from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines decide to boost economic growth, promoting energy and food security
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) — A cross-border alliance of Southeast Asian nations — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines — has significantly expanded trade, energy cooperation, and infrastructure development in some of their most remote regions, according to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Speaking at the 16th Summit of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Marcos highlighted the alliance’s efforts to reduce economic disparities within the subregion.
Key achievements include better transport connectivity, increased trade and investment flows, and enhanced food and energy security.
“These joint efforts are transforming our shared aspirations into real benefits for our people,” Marcos said, calling for greater political will and innovation as the group moves forward. The summit also marked eight years since the adoption of the group’s strategic roadmap, Vision 2025.
Established in 1994, BIMP-EAGA targets areas that are geographically distant from each country’s national capital but lie close to one another. These include all of Brunei; eastern Indonesia’s Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and West Papua; Malaysia’s Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan; and the southern Philippines’ Mindanao and Palawan.
These territories cover over 60% of the landmass of the four countries but account for less than 20% of their combined population and workforce — highlighting the need for inclusive development.
Alongside Marcos, the summit was attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and senior ministers from the member countries.
Marcos noted that since 2017, when the group adopted Vision 2025, collaboration among member states has accelerated, leading to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
BIMP-EAGA’s strategy focuses on practical projects: developing sea and air transport links to connect distant islands, supporting renewable energy through cross-border power grids, and investing in ecotourism and agriculture. The region has also prioritised green development and environmental sustainability.
According to the group’s latest data, its economy expanded by 7.7% in 2022. The total economic output of the region was valued at 392.1 billion US dollars, making up nearly 19% of the combined GDP of the four countries.
Infrastructure development has become a major pillar of the initiative. Since 2017, the number of high-priority infrastructure projects has more than doubled — from 57 to 129 — with a total investment value of nearly 39 billion dollars as of late 2023.
Looking ahead, Marcos said that the alliance must build on this momentum to create a more connected and resilient sub-region. “We have laid down stronger foundations for inclusive, sustainable and innovation-driven growth,” he said.
The BIMP-EAGA remains a key example of how neighbouring countries can cooperate to lift up underdeveloped areas through shared goals, targeted investment, and regional trust.
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