Prime Minister participates in the 16th IMT-GT Summit and welcomes the successful signing of FOC CIQ to facilitate seamless trade and transportation among the three countries

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Prime Minister participated in the 16th Leaders’ Meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (The 16th IMT-GT Summit) during the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting was chaired by Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, with participation from Mr. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs representing the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr. Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank, as well as ministers and senior officials from IMT-GT member countries. The Thai delegation included Mr. Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance as the IMT-GT Minister, and Mr. Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, as senior official.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister emphasized the implementation of the IMT-GT Vision 2036 to achieve an integrated, innovation-driven, equitable, and sustainably growing sub-region. He highlighted significant achievements over the past 30 years in infrastructure connectivity, economic integration, and sustainable development in the sub-region, while expressing appreciation for the signing of the Framework of Cooperation on Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (FOC CIQ), which will facilitate seamless cross-border movement of goods and people within the sub-region. Furthermore, the Prime Minister provided three recommendations for IMT-GT operations: (1) Promoting value-added and sustainable agriculture by upgrading production standards to align with international standards and fostering cooperation for responsible production, which will help drive sustainable agricultural leadership and improve the quality of life for people in the region; (2) Driving innovation and research and development (R&D) to enhance competitiveness, address climate change risks, and build future food security and resilience; and (3) Developing physical and digital infrastructure to support seamless connectivity, attract investment, and drive long-term growth.

Malaysia emphasized support for multi-dimensional operations, including economic reform, tourism promotion, halal industry, agricultural sector, and advancing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sub-region. Additionally, importance was placed on exchanging approaches to address climate change and strengthening sub-regional connectivity to jointly drive sustainable development. Meanwhile, Indonesia presented three strategic approaches: (1) enhancing sub-regional connectivity through FOC CIQ, (2) developing sustainable agribusiness, and (3) promoting community-driven cooperation, while reaffirming commitment to advancing IMT-GT cooperation in alignment with ASEAN goals.

Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ASEAN Secretariat, as key development partners of the IMT-GT program, played important roles in promoting sub-regional cooperation. ADB emphasized the role of the IMT-GT program in strengthening the ASEAN Community, announcing the expansion of Green City Action Plans (GCAP) implementation and setting a target to increase trade support within Southeast Asia to USD 2.5 billion annually by 2030 to enhance infrastructure and sustainable supply chain resilience. The ASEAN Secretary-General emphasized driving the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 by focusing on regional connectivity, carbon reduction in the agricultural sector, and tourism recovery in the sub-region, while proposing coordination of IMT-GT strategies with ASEAN approaches alongside promoting investment, public-private cooperation, and regulatory reform to foster inclusive and sustainable growth in the sub-region.

The meeting endorsed the Joint Statement of the 16th IMT-GT Summit, which reflects the shared commitment to realize the IMT-GT Vision 2036 through sustainable economic development via green, blue, and circular economy approaches, including driving growth through digital innovation and enhancing capacity to effectively address global challenges.

Watch the meeting video recording at:

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Subject: Strategic and International Cooperation Coordination Division
National Economic and Social Development Council
Photo: Government House