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BIMP-EAGA and Other Regional Events in 2000
(Key events only; list is non-exhaustive.)
April 24-25 Second Merged BIMP-EAGA WGM on HRD and People Mobility Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
April 22-26 International Exhibition and Conference on Halal Products and Services Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
May 3-4 BIMP-EAGA Conference on Privatisation Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
May 11-15 Sabah International Expo 2000 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
June 8th BIMP-EAGA WGM on Fisheries Cooperation Labuan, Malaysia
June 8th BIMP-EAGA WGM on Agro-Industry Labuan, Malaysia
June 17-20 APEC Women Leaders' Network Meeting (WLN) Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
June 18-25 APEC E-Trade Fair Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
June 21 APEC SME Policy Level Group Meeting Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
June 21-22 APEC E-Commerce Workshop Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
June 21-23 APEC SME Business Forum Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
June 22-24 APEC SME Minsiterial Meeting Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
June 26-28 ADB Workshop: SME Development in BIMP-EAGA Manila, Philippines
August 2-4 Senior Officials & Ministers Meeting Labuan FT, Malaysia
August 17-19 9th Mindanao Business Conference Koronadal, Philippines
September 8 Cross-border Trade between Sarawak and West Kalimantan: The Kuching Dialogue Kuching, Malaysia
September 15 Cross-border Trade between Sarawak and West Kalimantan: The Kuching Dialogue Pontianak, Indonesia
September 28 - October 1 Davao Agri-industrial Trade Exhibit 2000 Davao City, Philippines
October 12-15 BIMP-EAGA SME Trade and Tourism in the New Millennium: An International Exhibition and Seminar Miri, Malaysia
October 18-19 9th BIMP-EAGA WGM on Construction and Construction Materials Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
Do you have an EAGA event to promote? Send us the details.

F e a t u r e    n e w s    a n d    a r t i c l e s

Web-posted: 29 August 2000
Private sector urges EAGA governments for stronger support

The Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East ASEAN Business Council (BIMP-EABC), official representative of the private sector of BIMP-EAGA, has urged the governments of the East ASEAN Growth Area to provide stronger support to the private sector in the sub-region.

Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman bin Pg Hj Abas, EABC Chairman, issued strong statements on three important issues during the 9th EAGA Senior Officials Meeting held last August 2 to 3 in Labuan, Malaysia. These were on security, government support, and the need for more EAGA-wide events.

EABC sought the assurance of the four governments that a stable and peaceful business environment will be maintained to enable trade, tourism and investment to prosper.

"While the economic crisis is behind us, the region still comes under a cloud," Pg Hj Abdul Rahman said. "EABC wishes to emphasise that for business in EAGA to thrive, the threats posed by recent security problems in several areas of EAGA must be quickly addressed and resolved. Only then can the private sector get down to do what it is supposed to do."

As a sign of government support, the EABC appealed for the regular holding of Senior Officials’ Meetings every year. "This will help build on EAGA’s public-private sector partnership," Pg Hj Abdul Rahman said.

"As the private sector’s direct channel to this high-level EAGA policy-making body, the region’s business community notices that momentum on EAGA matters can only be achieved and sustained with regular SOMs," he added.

The EABC also underscored the need for more EAGA-wide events to foster private sector interaction.

EABC likewise requested that the leaders of the EAGA countries highlight BIMP-EAGA during their bilateral meetings at the forthcoming APEC Summit in Brunei Darussalam this November, citing the importance of increasing cross border trade in support of APEC’s objectives.

The BIMP-EABC is the fifth member of the five-panel BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials Meeting. It is the official voice of the private sector in the BIMP-EAGA.

 Web-posted: 29 August 2000
Sabah trade mission to woo Brunei investors

Bandar Seri Begawan ­ A forty-member Trade and Investment Mission from Sabah this September 5 to7 promises to bring fresh and attractive business opportunities to potential Brunei investors.

Led by Minister Datuk Hj Musa bin Hj Aman of the Chief Minister’s Department, the delegation is composed of representatives from both the public and private sector.

A half-day seminar on Trade and Investment Opportunities in Sabah and a subsequent business matching session coordinated by the EABC will be held on September 6. It will highlight concrete projects and proposals in tourism, seafood/fisheries, processed food, livestock and dairy processing, oil palm, textiles and garments, which are open for tie-ups with interested Brunei investors.

The delegation will also meet with the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan DSS Hj Abd Rahman bin DS Hj Mohd Taib.

The Mission is an offshoot of discussions held recently between His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam, and Rt. Hon. Datuk Seri Paduka Hj Osu bin Hj Sukam, the Chief Minister of Sabah.

 Web-posted: 29 August
SME seminar to chart agenda for EAGA trade and tourism development

The EABC will host a seminar for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on BIMP-EAGA trade and tourism development this October 12-15 in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Public Utilities, YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan, is expected to keynote the seminar.

The seminar will cover discussions on enhancing cross-border cooperation in the trade and tourism sector particularly through the participation of EAGA’ s SMEs.

On tourism, participants are expected to discuss the possibilities of promoting the entire Borneo Island as a single tourism product through the Borneo Package, an initiative of the BIMP-EAGA Working Group on Joint Tourism Development. Speakers include representatives from the Sarawak Tourism Board, Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation, the Tourism Unit of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources-Brunei Darussalam and Brunei’s Freme Travel Corporation.

Discussions on SME trade and investments, meanwhile, will be led by speakers both from the government and private sectors such as the Sabah BIMP-EAGA Business Council and the Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation, among others. Topics range from the potentials of cross-border business councils and growth zones in the EAGA to SME opportunities and financing, including the eastASEANbiz.net, EABC’s electronic link-up for SMEs.

A trade and tourism exhibition to be opened at the Imperial Mall will also be held in conjuction with the seminar. The seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn-Miri.

For details, please contact Mr. Andrew Dy at the EABC Secretariat (+673-2) 380176 or e-mail info@eastASEANbiz.net.



DO YOU KNOW THAT...  eastASEANbiz.net has been designated as the official EAGA tourism site? Yes, EABC’s upcoming eastASEANbiz.net web portal has been designated by the Working Group on Joint Tourism Development as the official tourism site for the BIMP-EAGA. The site, however, is not limited to tourism. More importantly, it has also been designed as a tool for the entry of EAGA SMEs into electronic commerce. Its Business EAGA pages include Business Match corporate profiles and hyperlinks for network members as well as relevant information on commercial investment opportunities, investment incentives and procedures, and EAGA-wide project profiles. The site also offers very low advertising rates for advertisers. Don’t be missed. Go EAGA! @ eastASEANbiz.net. Be part of it.

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Andrew Dy, BIMP-East Asean Business Council