Brunei

Philippines

Implementing Mechanisms

It was during that meeting that EAGA's goal was agreed upon: to increase trade, tourism, and investments in the region through the following objectives:
First, to facilitate free movement of people, goods, and services. Second, share common infrastructure and natural resources; and third, pursue economic complementation.
In implementing the EAGA, the private sector, through its participation in the Working Groups and affiliation with the East ASEAN Business Council (BIMP-EAGA BC), provide valuable insights to pave the way for strategic policy recommendations. These recommendations are then taken up by the Working Groups, or elevated to the Senior Officials' and Ministers' Meeting (SOMM) for action. Alternatively, the business community also has the option to air its concerns to the BIMP-EAGA BC, who subsequently relays these collectively to SOMM by way of the Council's participation as a distinct delegation during these occasions.
EAGA Working Groups are composed of both public and private sector participants who take up relevant issues and launch projects benefiting their sectors and EAGA as a whole. Five such sectors have been identified as fast-track areas, where bold initiatives are continually advocated for in order to spur development in other supportive sectors. These fast track areas are Air Linkages, Sea Linkages, Tourism, Fisheries, and Construction. Progress of the Working Groups is monitored by a designated "lead country," selected on the basis of their recognised expertise over others in this particular sector.
Perhaps what contribute to EAGA's uniqueness are two basic characteristics: first, the Ministers responsible for EAGA agreed that it is to be market-driven, where the private sector plays a crucial role in its development. Second, EAGA is to adhere to a decentralised organisational structure, where quadrilateral consensus is not required. This means that a specific project between two member countries may be called an EAGA project, and may push through as agreed, even though the other two member countries are not involved in the endeavour.

Re-establishing Ancient Trade Links

Interaction and trade among indigenous Malays and Filipinos in the region was flourishing even before the colonial era, and it was the birth of nations and the subsequent establishment of national boundaries just slightly over a century ago that disrupted these linkages. In a sense therefore, the EAGA is more about re-establishing trade and cultural ties among its peoples.
The EAGA has vast resources available for trade, investments, and tourism. Brunei has a supply of oil and gas estimated to last at least another 20 years. In 1995, Brunei exported B$ 3.388 B (US$ 2.118 B) in crude oil and gas, a large percentage of which to the markets of Japan and South Korea.
Indonesia is rich oil and gas, agricultural and forestry products and construction materials. In the year 1994, Indonesia exported US$ 5.072 B in crude petroleum, $ 4.124 B in plywood, and $ 3.689 B in gas. In addition, mining is also among Indonesia's strengths, marked by the presence of this industry in all Indonesia-EAGA component areas.
In the period January to October 1998, Malaysia's Sabah state sold RM 4.067 B (US$ 1.070 B) in palm oil products. In the same period, it also exported RM 1.6 B ($421 m) in crude petroleum and RM 1.069 B ($281 m) in plywood. On the other hand, Sarawak shipped RM 5.615 B ($1.478 B) in liquefied natural gas, RM 3.052 B ($803 m) in crude petroleum, RM 2.135 B ($562 m) in wood products, and RM 1.383 B ($364 m) in sawn logs.
In the Philippines, Western Mindanao registered 1997 export values of US$ 39m in marine and agricultural products, and Northern Mindanao posted a $ 16.618m in canned pineapple products. Textile manufacturing is also among the island's top exports of late.

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