THE PHILIPPINES hosted the 33rd Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), which took place in Davao City, the birthplace of regional cooperation.
Outgoing Malaysian chairman, represented by Deputy Director General for Policy Datuk Dr. Zunika Binti Mohamed, the Economic Planning Unit of Malaysia, expressed confidence in the Philippines’ ability to advance the region’s shared goals. Malaysia was the host country for the 32nd SOM.
“We take pride in the spirit of solidarity and mutual support that has enabled meaningful progress across our sub-region,” Mohamed said. “We are confident in the Philippines’ leadership and commitment to advancing our shared goals.”
Janet M. Lopoz, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) executive director, and the Philippine Senior Official for BIMP-EAGA accepted the chairmanship during the turnover on behalf of the Philippine Signing Minister, MinDA Chairperson, Secretary Leo Tereso Magno.
In her message, she emphasized the country’s intent to further the existing gains of the region.
“Malaysia’s leadership has provided us with a strong foundation on which we can continue to build. Now, as the Philippines takes on the chairmanship of the senior officials meeting, we do so with a deep sense of responsibility and at the same time optimism,” Lopoz said.
She added that the gathering in Davao City is “deeply meaningful” as it is in the city where the BIMP-EAGA inaugural Senior Officials’ Meeting and Ministerial Meeting in 1994 took place.
Under the Philippines’ leadership, she said it will focus on climate resilience, energy transition, digital transformation, and inclusive economic recovery, key pillars of BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035.
The 33rd SOM leads to the Ministerial Meeting, which will finalize action plans for the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035, part of a weeklong series of BIMP-EAGA events in Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal, from Nov. 9-14.
The SOM brought together senior representatives from the four member economies, including Executive Director Janet M. Lopoz, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and the Philippine Senior Official for BIMP-EAGA; Deputy Director General for Policy Datuk Dr. Zunika Binti Mohamed, Economic Planning Unit of Malaysia; Deputy for Regional and Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation Raden Nurcahyo, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of Indonesia; and Deputy Permanent Secretary Pg. Norhaslina Pg. Hj. Ibrahim, Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei Darussalam.
