1. Brunei Darussalam, through the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) assumed the Chairmanship of the BIMP-EAGA Transport Cluster Meeting (TCM) for a period of three years from 2025-2028, during the 12th BIMP-EAGA Transport Cluster Meeting (12th TCM) held on 21-23 July 2025 at the Centrepoint Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
2. The 12th TCM was chaired by Yang Mulia Dayang Fadzila binti Awang Haji Abdul Hamid, Acting Head of Transport Policy Division at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and attended by delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC), BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre (BIMP-FC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
3. In her Opening Address, Yang Mulia Dayang Fadzila binti Awang Haji Abdul Hamid highlighted the transformative role of connectivity in unlocking economic potential and ensuring social inclusivity through the development of roads, bridges, airports, and ports, which lay the groundwork for stronger multimodal linkages, facilitating both trade and people-to-people ties. She further highlighted the progress and achievement of the BIMP-EAGA transport sector thus far under the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 (BEV 2025), which is presently BIMP-EAGA’s guiding strategic framework. She urged that the BIMP-EAGA Transport Cluster’s work consider inclusivity, new technologies, and resiliency to climate change, digital disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainties, and to be aligned with the ASEAN Vision 2045 and the global Sustainable Development Goals.
4. In its plenary session, the 12th TCM deliberated on the progress and status of transport projects and activities across all three transports sectors under the present BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 (BEV 2025), which focused on four (4) Strategic Priorities, that is: (i) increase multimodal transport connectivity within and between the priority economic corridors; (ii) improve transport facilitation; (ii) improve infrastructure and facilities at designated priority seaports, airports, and land routes; and (iv) strengthening of project level convergence in the development of trade- and tourism-related transport connectivity. This includes the sustainability of air transport, sea transport and cross-border land transport services, and enhancements in its related hard and soft infrastructure.
5. The 12th TCM also deliberated on the transport goals and strategies for the upcoming BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 (BEV 2035), which is the successor document to the BEV 2025. The BEV 2035 lays out renewed focus on the subregion’s goal to achieve seamless travel and become a sustainable tourism destination, with cross-cutting themes such as (i) digitalisation, technology and innovation; (ii) blue economy; (iii) circular and regenerative economy; and (iv) creative industries. The 12th TCM will continue to deliberate the draft transport strategy under the BEV 2035 with a view to submit it to the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meeting (MM) later this year.
6. In addition, Brunei Darussalam through the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) assumed the chairmanship of the BIMP-EAGA Air Linkages Working Group (ALWG) for the period 2025-2028. The ALWG Meeting along with the Sea Linkages Working (SLWG) Meeting and the Land Transport Working Group (LTWG) Meeting were held were held back-to-back with the 12th TCM. Among others, the ALWG Chairman led discussions on the status of air connectivity and its supporting infrastructure in BIMP-EAGA cities, which is crucial to the movement of people and goods within the subregion.
7. Also present at the 12th TCM as part of Brunei Darussalam’s delegation were senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Land Transport Department (JPD), the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD), and other related agencies.
8. Prior to the 12th TCM, the BIMP-EAGA Transport Private Sector Meeting was convened on 21 July 2025, chaired by Mr. Thomas Koh, representative from the Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC). The Meeting is a crucial platform for the BIMP-EAGA transport private sector community to raise issues and propose new projects for consideration and facilitation by the BIMP member countries, as a strong partnership and engagement with the transport private sector will ensure the long-term sustainability of connectivity in the subregion.
9. The outcomes of the 12th TCM will be reported to the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meeting later this year for further deliberation and adoption. TCM convenes once a year to review and coordinate transport-related projects and initiatives in the BIMP-EAGA subregion, to enhance connectivity especially underserved areas, with a goal of deeper regional integration.
Prepared by:
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications,
Brunei Darussalam
