BIMP-EAGA Regional Environment Program Inception Meeting
Opening Statement by
Tom Crouch
Deputy-Director General, Southeast Asia Department
Asian Development Bank
Manila, Philippines
17-18 April, 2008
On behalf of the Asian Development Bank, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to this inception meeting to launch the implementation of the Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) entitled: Strengthening Sound Environmental Management in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines (BIMP-EAGA). As you are all aware, the RETA aims at designing a long-term regional environment program (REP) for BIMP-EAGA.
Purpose of the Inception Meeting
This inception meeting is intended not only to provide you with a better understanding of the project but also to address concerns and issues that you may have as regards project implementation. Therefore, in the next one and half days we will have an opportunity to discuss activities and performance targets of the RETA. In addition, you will also be briefed on the key initiatives on Heart of Borneo, Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Eco-region and the Coral Triangle, and Trans-boundary Haze, which are the focus of the RETA, as well as other related environmental issues such as climate change and global warming where ADB is aiming to provide assistance to our developing member countries.
Specifically, as outputs for our meeting we are aiming for agreement on:
- The preparatory steps for implementation of the design phase to proceed nationally and regionally,
- A draft work program for the next 15 months, and
- an institutional set up for pilot project implementation as well as for regional coordination.
Enhancing Regional Cooperation Across National Boundaries
As we all know, The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, or BIMP-EAGA was launched in March 1994 by the leaders of the four countries as a potential high growth area. It was a joint strategy of the participating governments to address the social and economic development of their less developed and more remote territories. It comprises the entire sultanate of Brunei Darrussalam; the provinces of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and West Papua in Indonesia; the states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan in Malaysia; and in the Philippines, Mindanao and adjacent islands of Palawan. BIMP-EAGA covers an area of 1.57 million square kilometers, and has a population of about 60 million. It has a GDP of about $65 billion, with GDP per capita of about $1,100, which is similar to the national average of the four member countries. Although BIMP-EAGA accounts for only 18 percent of the population of member countries, it includes 60 percent of the land area, much of which is rich in natural resources. Most of the sub-region's countries have done very well economically but the region suffers from poverty and serious environmental problems. Many resource rich islands lad far behind in their development compared to the capital regions. Therefore, the four governments have agreed to work together on a number of regional projects to promote economic growth and reduce poverty.
Need for Expanded Engagement in BIMP-EAGA
Promoting regional cooperation is integral to ADB's Charter. Hence, we are pleased to play an active catalytic role in facilitating the development of a coherent BIMP-EAGA program. Investments in priority infrastructure sectors of transport, energy, telecommunications and tourism have been implemented to accelerate the growth of the sub region aimed at accelerating development impact. As a consequence economic corridors are building on key transport infrastructure investments to optimize trade opportunities for accelerating the pace of economic growth and development in the region.
The first wave of economic growth in the early 1990's, unfortunately, led to massive degradation of natural systems and resources in the region. Governments have learned that it cannot afford a similar loss in the next development wave. The need to enhance multi-country cooperation to better manage common resources led to the signing of tri-country agreement for the Adoption of the Conservation Action Plan for SSME (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines, 2004) and the HoB (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, 2007). Both areas straddle on the territory of the signatory countries. The forest fires that generate the far-reaching haze prompted the signing of an ASEAN agreement on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution (1999). These agreements were reinforced at the September 2007 APEC meeting in which the APEC Leaders "welcomed the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security, which is aimed at enhancing the conservation of marine biological resources" to increase forest cover, and reduce climate change and energy intensity. These agreements and the corresponding institutional arrangement of implementation serve as the platform that the region can operate based on the diverse comparative advantages of the four economies.
A Collective Response
The BIMP-EAGA countries requested technical and financial support from ADB and other regional and bilateral organizations to support the sub-regional environmental flagship initiatives. This BIMP REP responds to that request in a way that will bring long term commitment within a systematic and integrated framework embedded in the existing regional institutional and economic development planning arrangements and cycles.
Over the next decade and beyond, a major shift in the balance of investment is needed - one that emphasizes the sustainable use of natural resources, safeguarding natural system and the enhancement of environmental quality. Continued economic growth and equitable development will depend on this shift taking place.
In recent years a very significant process has begun. And the participants in this unique gathering here today composed of BIMP governments, international NGOs and development partners are the primary architects of this process. We are on the way to introduce a major new and proactive environment program to be overseen by the BIMP-EAGA Natural Resources Cluster Group that includes working groups on Agro-industry, Forestry, Environment and Energy and with strong linkages to Tourism development. Natural resources and the environment are a critical part of the overall development strategy for the sub-region. The REP for BIMP-EAGA aims to create a shared vision and an investment framework for long term taking into consideration the following dimensions:
- Sub-regional environmental governance and institution building
- Achieving sustainability and environmental protection in the main development sectors which shape natural resource use and systems
- Innovative financing for sustainability and environmental protection, and
- The conservation and effective planning and management of biodiversity corridors.
The REP will also aim to provide a framework for mobilizing increasing flows of funding for the environment and for a new wave of effort in reorienting the nature and quality of development to have more sustainable and equitable outcomes.
Conclusion
Every now and again in the history of a region a major leap forward in the thinking and evolution of policy and institutions takes place. We are at such a point in the BIMP-EAGA region. There is rapidly spreading realization among senior decision makers that urgent and strong conservation action is now critical to the continuing development of the region. From my point of view, as Deputy Director General of ADB's Southeast Asia Department, it is a priority that needs to be placed at centre stage over the next decade. On our part, we will ensure that it will receive our fullest attention.
Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to all of you for coming to this inception meeting, and like to wish a very fruitful and constructive discussion.
Thank you.
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