The Covid-19 pandemic created some of the most challenging times for businesses, but one sector was hit particularly hard – tourism. Due to enforced immobility, countries that relied heavily on tourism took a great blow. As the world gradually reopened, a few of Asia’s biggest travel destinations decided to join forces in an effort to grow stronger together.
Countries in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) have agreed to come together to reset tourism and benefit local communities and small businesses, and give a general boost to their respective economies.
This matter was discussed in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, during the 25th BIMP-EAGA meeting. Ministers and stakeholders from every country participated in the event, where Malaysia was represented by the Economic Planning Unit director-general Datuk Nor Azmie Diron.
After taking all requisite measures, each country in this region painstakingly drove away the pandemic from their country. So, any tourists being driven away due to the fears of the virus can now travel to these countries stress-free. At the Indonesia meeting, the members discussed how rolling out the BIMP-EAGA, and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) tourism recovery communications plan would speed up the revival of tourism.
At the BEBC, a proposal was made “to initiate the cross-border power grid interconnectivity to help address the growing energy demands and provide sustainable and reliable energy access to communities,” said Datuk Nor Azmie Diron.
EPU DG Nor Azmie also touched upon plans to strengthen business relations between Malaysia and Brunei. He said that the MoUs aimed to develop reciprocal cooperation to drive economic growth and development of both countries.
Nor Azmie also added that on the institutional capacity of the BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre, Malaysia would do its due diligence on Brunei’s proposal to set up the BIMP-EAGA Secretariat in the country.