Special Feature:President Benigno S. Aquino III's Opening Statement as Chairman of the 7th BIMP-EAGA Summit, Jakarta, Indonesia,May 8, 2011

SPECIAL FEATURE 

President Benigno S. Aquino III’s Opening Statement

as Chairman of the 7^th BIMP-EAGA Summit

Cendrawasih I, Jakarta Convention Center

Jakarta, Indonesia

                                                     8 May 2011                                

I now call this meeting to order.

It is a great honor for the Philippines to chair the 7th Summit of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

ASEAN’s goal of economic integration and a more synergistic community by 2015 stands. We recognize BIMP-EAGA’s role in achieving that goal, and gather now to reaffirm our efforts and gains in promoting economic and social development, connectivity and shared prosperity in the sub-region.

There have been steady gains in ASEAN economic integration, as manifested by the operationalization of sub-regional economic cooperation such as BIMP-EAGA. For the past 17 years, BIMP-EAGA has served as a vital mechanism in the process of actualizing our collective vision as brother nations, and we are confident of its continued significance in such crucial initiatives as those in transport connectivity, and trade facilitation. 

BIMP-EAGA has been positioning itself as a food production hub, as well as a premier ecotourism destination taking in account the richness of our biodiversity.  In achieving these strategic thrusts, convergence and complementation of support across sectors and stakeholders will be very crucial. Our presence here, as leaders of BIMP-EAGA, is a concrete manifestation of our firm support for this subregional cooperation.

I look forward to an active and productive exchange among us leaders. Through dialogue based firmly in trust and collective responsibility, we will be able to move forward with the goals and objectives of BIMP-EAGA.

May I invite Minister Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, as representative of BIMP-EAGA Ministers, to give the presentation on recent developments in BIMP-EAGA.

One good child in the heart of a loving mother: A tribute to all mothers for the celebration of Mother's Day 2011

One good child in the heart of a loving mother: A tribute to all mothers for the celebration of Mother's Day 2011
There is always one good child in the heart of a loving mother that every father could always treasure in his life, as part of his creation. Let us all be grateful for having a loving mother in our life, who became God's vessel for us to become a person of what we are now, and what we will become in the future. A son or a daughter who will continue the battle and greater challenges of life under a localized, sub-regional, regional and globalized economic integration of countries in the world. We are motivated to contribute and make a difference for the next generation of human race, under the inspiration and guidance of a heavenly Creator- our Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent God. A mother will always be remembered as God's blessing to mankind and in our individual family.

A Happy Mother's Day to all loving mothers throughout the Philippines and the whole world, specially, my great loving mother! We love you all! God is good all the time! -  ERE-Arteconomics, May 8, 2011