27 September 2005 – Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia H. Benavidez has emphasized the significant contributions of the Philippines in pushing forward the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Ambassador Benavidez hosted a dinner reception for the Philippine BIMP-EAGA delegates headed by the Honorable Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao and Chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, on 21 September 2005 at the official residence, Ang Bahay.

Secretary Dureza and party were in Brunei Darussalam to attend the 13lh Senior Officials Meeting and 10th Ministerial Meeting of BIMP-EAGA. Secretary Dureza was a keynote speaker at the 1 ½ -day East ASEAN Business Summit 2005 held before the Ministerial Meeting, which had as its theme the future of the sub-regional growth area.

In her welcoming remarks before dinner, Ambassador Benavidez acknowledged the excellent presentation of Secretary Dureza on the challenges being faced by BIMP-EAGA and the favorable reaction from the other participants and audience who were impressed by the wealth of information and insights shared by him.

Also invited to the dinner at the Ang Bahay were 15 members of the Impasugong, Bukidnon, Municipal Government, the members of the Philippine private sector led by Mr. Antonio R. Santos, Sr., Chairman of the Mindanao Business Council, and the various Philippine exhibitors at the BIMP-EAGA, Trade and Tourism Expo 2005 held at the sidelines of the BIMP-EAGA meetings. On exhibit were Philippine handicrafts, fashion accessories and novelty items, beauty products, calamansi juice drink and granite tile/walls and ceramics.

Ambassador Benavidez also met with officials from the  Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to discuss possible follow-up initiatives arising from the Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation signed on 14 November 2000 and specific areas of collaboration on the fishing industry in the Sultanate. Other prospective ventures on halal certification, agribusiness and air linkages to Southern Philippines were likewise taken up with the relevant Brunei authorities. END