RI to Lead 12th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Summit

Singapore, (Antara) - Republic Indonesia will replace Thailand as chairman of the 12th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Summit (IMT-GT) to be held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Thailand in 2019.

The change in chairmanship was announced by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the 11th IMT-GT Summit. The summit was also attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Musa Hitam following the implementation of the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore on Saturday.

In Singapore, the IMT-GT leaders held a discussion on developing green cities and sustainable tourism in addition to enhancing regional connectivity.

The summit was also attended by ASEAN Secretary General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi and Vice President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Stephen P. Groff.

Groff noted that the ADB had been a partner of the IMT-GT program since 2007, with a project value of some US$47 billion, to realize a tri-nation vision of integrated, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable development in 2036.

"The ADB is committed to supporting the development of smart cities and sustainable tourism in the three countries, including the management of plastic waste in tourism areas," he noted.

He also expressed hope that the Indonesian government would be the coordinator of the 12th IMT-GT in Thailand by 2019 to continue the sustainable development programs through a tri-nation growth mechanism.

The IMT-GT is an ASEAN sub-regional group aimed at enhancing economic development in 32 regions in three countries: 10 provinces in Indonesia, eight states in northern Malaysia, and 14 provinces in southern Thailand.

During the summit, Widodo was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, and Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita.(*)