By: Ulul Maskuriah
Banjarmasin , South Kalimantan ( Antaranews ) - Officials from the Ministry of Transportation of four countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam met here to discuss the development of transport infrastructure and connectivity.
Chief of The Center for Public Communication of Ministry of Transportation, Bambang S Ervan, here on Monday, said this is the eighth meeting to discuss the development of transport infrastructure projects which are expected to be inter-connected interstate of BIMP-EAGA.
"Today in a stage of our preparations for a summit on Tuesday (22/10), which will be attended by the Minister and the transport minister -level officials from the four countries that are members of the BIMP-EAGA, " he said.
BIMP - EAGA was launched in 1994 as a cooperation initiative to accelerate economic development in the " area of ​​focus " the four countries. Although geographically distant from their national capitals, are in strategic proximity to each other.
Bambang said the main agenda in the discussion of "8th BIMP-EAGA Transport Ministers Meeting" in Banjarmasin is the overall development of ASEAN connectivity and the importance of connectivity progress, economic development and the development of each region.
Here they will discuss various development issues of transportation, whether by land, sea and air to support connectivity in BIMP- EAGA region, in order to foster tourism, trade, and investment.
In previous meetings, said Bambang, much progress has been generated through the agreement and cooperation. For example, the signing of the Expansion of Air Linkages . This is followed up with concrete action, including wings airline inaugural flight between Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and Balikpapan, Indonesia, on February 1, 2013.
In addition, the increasing frequency of flights between Tawau in Malaysia and Tarakan in Indonesia and between Kuching and Pontianak.
For land transport, among other highway construction project completion Pontianak - Tayan and highway Sosok - Tayan - Entikong and Tanjung Selor - Simanggaris currently at the stage of contract process.
So is the ocean transportation is done through discussions and cooperation to be developed in the spirit of mutual support for the development and related economic development throughout the country. ** ***
