Brunei

Philippines

Overview

The BIMP-EAST ASEAN GROWTH AREA BUSINESS COUNCIL (BIMP-EAGA BC) is the official representative of the private sector of the BIMP-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). It brings directly to the attention of the BIMP Governments the concerns and views of the BIMP-EAGA private sector. This is made possible because BIMP-EAGA BC was officially accorded "fifth-country" status at the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of BIMP-EAGA.

An official BIMP-EAGA BC report is usually at the top of each BIMP-EAGA SOM. The BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials deliberate and, where possible, act on the BIMP-EAGA BC report at that particular meeting. Otherwise, follow-up actions on the BIMP-EAGA BC report are carried out immediately after the meeting.

The BIMP-EAGA BC was born 19 November 1994 in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines through Resolution No. 1 of the First East ASEAN Business Convention & Exhibits. The concept was for a private sector organization to catalyze the private sector of EAGA into undertaking economic cooperation activities in the region, and play a lead role in the region's economic development.

The BIMP-EAGA BC Secretariat was launched and first incorporated on November 19, 1996, two years after the creation of the Council. From its office in Brunei, the Secretariat carries on the Council's day-to-day operations.

The BIMP-EAGA BC has the following objectives:

1. To promote economic development and other business activities in BIMP-EAGA.
2. To serve as the link among business entities and other economic organizations involved in the BIMP-EAGA and to make representations with Governments on their behalf.
3. To disseminate information of common interest to members.
4. To propose to both public and private sectors such policies, plans, projects and changes in regulations that will enhance business interactions leading to economic development for BIMP-EAGA.

Some achievements of the council and its Secretariat include:

Participation at Senior officials Meetings (SOM) as a distinct delegation;

• Launch of print punlications (EAGA Business Update, Weekened Review) and the EAGA BC webiste, the repository of data and latest updates on all Working Groupps and SOM, plus statistics and country profiles;
• Conduct of the BIMP-EAGA Business Forum, which was first held in Brunei in May 1998;
• Involvement of the Secretatiat in the establishment of the EAGA Network of Information, a comprehensive collation of EAGA data soon to be launched on the Internet. Some achievements of the Council and its Secretariat include

In 2003, the BIMP-EAGA BC successfully undertook a review and re-structuring, which resulted in its representation of the BIMP-EAGA private sector re-organized through focal points in each of the BIMP countries. These focal points are:

• Brunei Darussalam: BIMP-EAGA Brunei Business Council
• Indonesia: ASEAN Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Malaysia: BIMP-EAGA Malaysia Business Council
• Philippines: Mindanao Business Council

With the re-structuring, BIMP-EAGA BC is no re-focusing its attention and emphasis towards the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which constitute the bulk of businesses in BIMP-EAGA.

Background

The BIMP-EAGA BC is the private-sector component of BIMP-EAGA. It was originally incorporated in Brunei Darussalam in 1996 where its Secretariat was originally also located. The Secretariat moved to Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia in 2001.

BIMP-EAGA BC represents the collective private sectors of the whole of BIMP-EAGA and aspires to be the prime mover in promoting intra-EAGA and inter-EAGA trade, business and investments.

BIMP-EAGA BC is governed by a Board, with three Directors each from the four Country Focal Points and led by a Chairman and Deputy Chairman elected to serve three-year terms by the Board of Directors. The Asian Development Bank also appoints a senior officer to sit in as an advisor to the BIMP-EAGA BC Board.

The BIMP-EAGA BC Secretariat is headed by an Executive Director appointed and answerable to the Chairman of the BIMP-EAGA BC Board.

BIMP-EAGA BC is officially accorded "fifth-country status" and is represented in BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials Meetings as the official voice of the collective BIMP-EAGA private sector. As the private-sector voice of BIMP-EAGA, BIMP-EAGA BC's role is categorized into four broad areas: marketing, data-bank, policy recommendations, and media and communications.

The BIMP-EAGA BC maintains an official website at www.bimpbc.org.

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