WHILE Thailand is nearly ready to hold the 35th Asean summit in early November, the host nation has voiced it's intent to accelerate the progress of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thai Growth Triangle (IMT-GT).
Deputy government spokeswoman, Rachada Dhnadirek said that the government is planning to hold talks with it's Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts on better economic cooperation through IMT-GT.
Rachada, quoted by the Bangkok Post, said the talks will be on the sidelines of the 35th Asean summit in early November.
"It will mostly be aiming to regulate and synchronise rules on agriculture, tourism and other products among the three countries, which share many similarities in terms of geography and demographic make-up," said the newspaper quoting the spokeswoman.
IMT-GT started as an early attempt at economic liberalisation and integration in Asean.
This was formally endorsed by Indonesian President Suharto, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and Thai Prime Minister, Chuan Leekpai in 1993.
The IMT-GT is a strategic framework of international economic co-operation by the approval of leaders from the 3 countries to develop the area in the southern part of Thailand, some areas of Malaysia (Kedah, Perlis, Perak, Penang, Selangor, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan) and some areas of Indonesia (Aceh, North Sumatera, West Sumatera, Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, Lampung).
According the five year IMT-GT plan in 2007-2011, these areas are slated to become ‘the sub-region of continuous development, progress, wealth, peace and quality of life’.
Since then the group have formulated a vision by 2036 to become an integrated, innovative, inclusive and sustainable subregions by that time.
According to the IMT-GT web, it is a shared strategy for promoting growth through greater regional economic integration and innovation, and for conserving and investing in IMT-GT’s natural capital for the well-being of the present and future generations.
It is also a long-term strategy for empowering its people to contribute to and benefit from the socioeconomic development of the subregion.
The vision is formulated with the IMT-GT peoples as the centerpiece of all regional development efforts.
Another Thai portal quoted the government website as saying that there will be an action plan for ocean sanitation.
"And the development of the Healthy Ocean and Sustainable Blue Economies which can be initiated by developing green cities to reduce plastic waste, waste water and waste into the ocean," it said.
Thai Prime Minister has also instructed the relevant agencies to proceed according to the said IMT-GT meeting results so far.
They then must periodically report progress of the IMT-GT vision 2036 that is important to link economic, social development and the development of innovation apart from to reduce inequality and lead to sustainable development.