(Bandar Seri Begawan, 8th) His Majesty the Sultan attended the special summit of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) held yesterday afternoon at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort in Cebu, Philippines.
Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei was Prince Mateen.
At the special summit, His Majesty delivered a royal address, highlighting the current global situation's impact on uncertainties in the energy market, supply chains, and food systems.
Given its abundant natural resources and agricultural capacity, the BIMP-EAGA region has tremendous potential to contribute to regional stability and food security.
Therefore, His Majesty emphasized the need to deepen cooperation and strengthen regional integration, especially in the fields of food, energy, connectivity, and logistics.
His Majesty underscored energy cooperation as a priority, including the effort to upgrade and interconnect rural and remote area power grids. Bridging the digital divide is also crucial, which requires expanding broadband connectivity to improve market access, increase efficiency, and drive rural economic innovation.
To this end, His Majesty encouraged the optimization of reconfigured economic corridors to attract investment in food and energy, and to strengthen the role of the East ASEAN Growth Area as a reliable source of basic goods and services.
In concluding his speech, His Majesty reiterated support for the East ASEAN Growth Area Vision 2035, considering it a framework for achieving resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth, and stressed the importance of establishing a fully functioning secretariat to ensure effective coordination and timely implementation of commitments.
At the conclusion of the special summit, the "Joint Statement of the 2026 Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Special Summit" was adopted.
Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei was Prince Mateen.
At the special summit, His Majesty delivered a royal address, highlighting the current global situation's impact on uncertainties in the energy market, supply chains, and food systems.
Given its abundant natural resources and agricultural capacity, the BIMP-EAGA region has tremendous potential to contribute to regional stability and food security.
Therefore, His Majesty emphasized the need to deepen cooperation and strengthen regional integration, especially in the fields of food, energy, connectivity, and logistics.
His Majesty underscored energy cooperation as a priority, including the effort to upgrade and interconnect rural and remote area power grids. Bridging the digital divide is also crucial, which requires expanding broadband connectivity to improve market access, increase efficiency, and drive rural economic innovation.
To this end, His Majesty encouraged the optimization of reconfigured economic corridors to attract investment in food and energy, and to strengthen the role of the East ASEAN Growth Area as a reliable source of basic goods and services.
In concluding his speech, His Majesty reiterated support for the East ASEAN Growth Area Vision 2035, considering it a framework for achieving resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth, and stressed the importance of establishing a fully functioning secretariat to ensure effective coordination and timely implementation of commitments.
At the conclusion of the special summit, the "Joint Statement of the 2026 Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Special Summit" was adopted.