Bangkok--Nov 21--MFA
1. We, the leaders of the respective Governments of the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Kingdom of Thailand, met today on the occasion of the 3rd Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit to discuss cooperation, progress and development prospects in the IMT-GT subregion. We strengthened our commitment to the vision of IMT-GT as a progressive, prosperous and peaceful subregion with improved quality of life. Affirming and reviewing the implementation of IMT-GT Roadmap our discussions focused on addressing challenges ahead for building upon the achievements in IMT-GT cooperation. On the occasion of ASEAN’s 40th anniversary and anticipating the dawn of the ASEAN Charter, we reaffirmed to transform the IMT-GT into a dynamic subregion and be one of the leading development areas in ASEAN.
2. We exchanged views on issues of common interests and concerns, including opportunities and challenges of globalization, trade liberalization, increasing energy prices, rapid technological advancement, growing regional integration, emerging markets and growing needs for competitiveness. We agreed that strengthening cooperation among our countries is critically important to better meet the challenges and harness the opportunities that these developments present. We firmly committed and resolved to strengthen and accelerate our economic cooperation in areas such as energy, environment, infrastructure, transportation and logistic connectivity, tourism as well as human resource development. We believed cooperation in security and in social and cultural areas are necessary complements to economic prosperity and sustainability.
3. We emphasized that IMT-GT cooperation has helped foster peace and stability as well as economic and social development in the subregion by increasing people-to-people contact, building trust and confidence, and instilling a greater sense of community among the people of the subregion. We are committed to sustaining peace and stability which we believe to be key prerequisites of economic development for the well being of the people of IMT-GT.
4. We welcomed six provinces from southern Thailand namely, Phuket, PhangNga, Krabi, Ranong, Chumphon and SuratThani as new members of IMT-GT areas. Cognizant of the socio-economic development gaps among IMT-GT areas of the three member countries, we also agreed to intensify implementation of the relevant measures that would enhance development partnership among states and provinces of the IMT-GT in order to narrow development disparities consistent with the ASEAN Vision 2020.
5. We reaffirmed our commitment to accelerate the implementation of programmes and projects in the IMT-GT Roadmap jointly agreed during the 2nd Summit of the IMT-GT especially those situated on the five Economic Connectivity Corridors. As the IMT-GT area has been expanded from the time we had approved the Roadmap, we initiated a new Ranong-Phuket-Aceh Economic Corridor and urged relevant agencies to create related programmes and projects to complement the corridor. We also urged for integrating the development of IMT-GT Economic Corridors with the national development plans including Batam, Bintan, and Karimun Special Economic Zone in Indonesia, Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Malaysia, as well as Southern Region Development Strategy in Thailand.
6. In reviewing implementation of the IMT-GT Roadmap, we underlined the need for concrete actions to be taken for enhancing connectivity, trade facilitation and human resource development. To improve connectivity in IMT-GT Subregion, we tasked the Transport Ministers and the Working Group on Infrastructure and Transportation to identify concrete proposals to reduce transport and logistic costs along the connectivity corridors, and to develop strategy for building transport network within IMT-GT subregion as a whole. To align IMT-GT more closely with the vision of ASEAN Economic Community, we tasked the Economic Ministers and the Working Group on Trade and Investment to identify and initiate implementation of measures to enhance trade facilitation in IMT-GT. To promote optimal utilization of labour resources in the IMT-GT subregion, we directed the concerned Ministers and the Working Group on Human Resource Development to identify steps for implementing ASEAN Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangement on a pilot basis.
7. We expressed our concerns on global warming and the effects of climate change on our economies and ecosystems. We called upon all IMT-GT institutions to strengthen their cooperation and address the environmental problem through effective and sustainable implementation of existing agreements and mechanisms. We directed all parties responsible for IMT-GT programmes and projects to take into account this emerging global concern.
8. We noted with satisfaction the efforts of the private sector led by the Joint Business Council (JBC) in increasing trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region. Recognizing the leading role of the private sector, we committed to continue to support and facilitate the efforts of the private sector at central, regional and local levels by providing a conducive business environment, promoting closer public-private partnership as well as integrating the supporting infrastructure with the needed logistic linkages within IMT-GT areas. We called for ADB’s assistance to facilitate the financing of identified projects of the private sector.
9. We commended the Governors’ and Chief Ministers’ Forum on strengthening cooperation at provincial and local levels in promoting trade, investment, tourism and cultural ties that will contribute to the economic and social development of the people of IMT-GT. We will support the Governors’ and Chief Ministers’ Forum and called on them to help accelerate and deepen subregional economic cooperation and integration at all levels by formalizing cooperation mechanisms among IMT-GT areas, particularly through the joint implementation measures, programmes and projects that are identified in the Roadmap.
10. We acknowledged and commended the Government of Malaysia for the establishment of the Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation or CIMT in Selangor State, Malaysia. We called for collaboration between CIMT and all IMT-GT entities in IMT-GT activities to ensure attainment of the development goals and targets set forth in the Roadmap, as well as the achievement of directions set forth by the Summit. We welcomed the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Secretariat to assist the new secretariat develop capacities adequate to efficiently perform its crucial coordinating and monitoring duties at the highest standards.
11. We commended the ADB on its role as IMT-GT Development Partner, especially on its technical support for initiating the development of the IMT-GT Economic Connectivity Corridors. Development of these economic corridors is the key to long-term growth of trade, investment and tourism in IMT-GT, and calls for further study and understanding of relevant sectoral issues. In this context, we urged ADB to facilitate development of a trade and investment database for IMT-GT, analysis of trade and investment climate in the subregion, and more detailed assessment of transport sector including transport costs, logistics development, maritime trade and port development in the subregion. We also called on ADB to help mobilize financial and technical resources for implementing prioritized projects as they are identified for further implementing the Roadmap. We commended the ASEAN Secretariat on its coordinating role between IMT-GT and ASEAN especially on the integration of their strategic plans by sectors of development.
12. We declared the year 2008 as the Visit IMT-GT Year. This will be officially launched in Hatyai, Songkhla Province, Thailand on 11 January 2008. We urged all relevant agencies, public and private for their close cooperation in making the Visit IMT-GT Year 2008 a success.
13. We expressed our gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Singapore for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.
14. We will continue to convene the IMT-GT Summit annually in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
1. We, the leaders of the respective Governments of the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Kingdom of Thailand, met today on the occasion of the 3rd Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Summit to discuss cooperation, progress and development prospects in the IMT-GT subregion. We strengthened our commitment to the vision of IMT-GT as a progressive, prosperous and peaceful subregion with improved quality of life. Affirming and reviewing the implementation of IMT-GT Roadmap our discussions focused on addressing challenges ahead for building upon the achievements in IMT-GT cooperation. On the occasion of ASEAN’s 40th anniversary and anticipating the dawn of the ASEAN Charter, we reaffirmed to transform the IMT-GT into a dynamic subregion and be one of the leading development areas in ASEAN.
2. We exchanged views on issues of common interests and concerns, including opportunities and challenges of globalization, trade liberalization, increasing energy prices, rapid technological advancement, growing regional integration, emerging markets and growing needs for competitiveness. We agreed that strengthening cooperation among our countries is critically important to better meet the challenges and harness the opportunities that these developments present. We firmly committed and resolved to strengthen and accelerate our economic cooperation in areas such as energy, environment, infrastructure, transportation and logistic connectivity, tourism as well as human resource development. We believed cooperation in security and in social and cultural areas are necessary complements to economic prosperity and sustainability.
3. We emphasized that IMT-GT cooperation has helped foster peace and stability as well as economic and social development in the subregion by increasing people-to-people contact, building trust and confidence, and instilling a greater sense of community among the people of the subregion. We are committed to sustaining peace and stability which we believe to be key prerequisites of economic development for the well being of the people of IMT-GT.
4. We welcomed six provinces from southern Thailand namely, Phuket, PhangNga, Krabi, Ranong, Chumphon and SuratThani as new members of IMT-GT areas. Cognizant of the socio-economic development gaps among IMT-GT areas of the three member countries, we also agreed to intensify implementation of the relevant measures that would enhance development partnership among states and provinces of the IMT-GT in order to narrow development disparities consistent with the ASEAN Vision 2020.
5. We reaffirmed our commitment to accelerate the implementation of programmes and projects in the IMT-GT Roadmap jointly agreed during the 2nd Summit of the IMT-GT especially those situated on the five Economic Connectivity Corridors. As the IMT-GT area has been expanded from the time we had approved the Roadmap, we initiated a new Ranong-Phuket-Aceh Economic Corridor and urged relevant agencies to create related programmes and projects to complement the corridor. We also urged for integrating the development of IMT-GT Economic Corridors with the national development plans including Batam, Bintan, and Karimun Special Economic Zone in Indonesia, Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Malaysia, as well as Southern Region Development Strategy in Thailand.
6. In reviewing implementation of the IMT-GT Roadmap, we underlined the need for concrete actions to be taken for enhancing connectivity, trade facilitation and human resource development. To improve connectivity in IMT-GT Subregion, we tasked the Transport Ministers and the Working Group on Infrastructure and Transportation to identify concrete proposals to reduce transport and logistic costs along the connectivity corridors, and to develop strategy for building transport network within IMT-GT subregion as a whole. To align IMT-GT more closely with the vision of ASEAN Economic Community, we tasked the Economic Ministers and the Working Group on Trade and Investment to identify and initiate implementation of measures to enhance trade facilitation in IMT-GT. To promote optimal utilization of labour resources in the IMT-GT subregion, we directed the concerned Ministers and the Working Group on Human Resource Development to identify steps for implementing ASEAN Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangement on a pilot basis.
7. We expressed our concerns on global warming and the effects of climate change on our economies and ecosystems. We called upon all IMT-GT institutions to strengthen their cooperation and address the environmental problem through effective and sustainable implementation of existing agreements and mechanisms. We directed all parties responsible for IMT-GT programmes and projects to take into account this emerging global concern.
8. We noted with satisfaction the efforts of the private sector led by the Joint Business Council (JBC) in increasing trade, investment and tourism in the sub-region. Recognizing the leading role of the private sector, we committed to continue to support and facilitate the efforts of the private sector at central, regional and local levels by providing a conducive business environment, promoting closer public-private partnership as well as integrating the supporting infrastructure with the needed logistic linkages within IMT-GT areas. We called for ADB’s assistance to facilitate the financing of identified projects of the private sector.
9. We commended the Governors’ and Chief Ministers’ Forum on strengthening cooperation at provincial and local levels in promoting trade, investment, tourism and cultural ties that will contribute to the economic and social development of the people of IMT-GT. We will support the Governors’ and Chief Ministers’ Forum and called on them to help accelerate and deepen subregional economic cooperation and integration at all levels by formalizing cooperation mechanisms among IMT-GT areas, particularly through the joint implementation measures, programmes and projects that are identified in the Roadmap.
10. We acknowledged and commended the Government of Malaysia for the establishment of the Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation or CIMT in Selangor State, Malaysia. We called for collaboration between CIMT and all IMT-GT entities in IMT-GT activities to ensure attainment of the development goals and targets set forth in the Roadmap, as well as the achievement of directions set forth by the Summit. We welcomed the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Secretariat to assist the new secretariat develop capacities adequate to efficiently perform its crucial coordinating and monitoring duties at the highest standards.
11. We commended the ADB on its role as IMT-GT Development Partner, especially on its technical support for initiating the development of the IMT-GT Economic Connectivity Corridors. Development of these economic corridors is the key to long-term growth of trade, investment and tourism in IMT-GT, and calls for further study and understanding of relevant sectoral issues. In this context, we urged ADB to facilitate development of a trade and investment database for IMT-GT, analysis of trade and investment climate in the subregion, and more detailed assessment of transport sector including transport costs, logistics development, maritime trade and port development in the subregion. We also called on ADB to help mobilize financial and technical resources for implementing prioritized projects as they are identified for further implementing the Roadmap. We commended the ASEAN Secretariat on its coordinating role between IMT-GT and ASEAN especially on the integration of their strategic plans by sectors of development.
12. We declared the year 2008 as the Visit IMT-GT Year. This will be officially launched in Hatyai, Songkhla Province, Thailand on 11 January 2008. We urged all relevant agencies, public and private for their close cooperation in making the Visit IMT-GT Year 2008 a success.
13. We expressed our gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Singapore for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.
14. We will continue to convene the IMT-GT Summit annually in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-