On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Thailand hosted the 31st Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Ministerial Meeting (The 31st IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting) in Trang Province, Thailand. Mr. Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, serving as Thailand’s IMT-GT Minister, chaired the meeting, along with Dato’ Hajah Hanifah Hajar Taib, Deputy Minister of Economy of Malaysia, Mr. Rachmat Budiman, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Thailand, Mr. Naraya Suprato, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, and Mr. Winfried Wicklein, Director General for Southeast Asia, Asian Development Bank, as well as senior officials from member countries, IMT-GT program, and over 300 participants from government agencies, private sector, and academic institutions from the three countries.
During this occasion, the meeting monitored progress and expedited the implementation of projects under the IMT-GT program, acknowledging the progress in infrastructure development to enhance connectivity and increase competitiveness in the subregion. This included driving operations under the Chief Ministers and Governors Forum (CMGF) framework, which comprises local-level projects reflecting area needs and potential, such as transportation route upgrades, port development, and customs checkpoint improvements to facilitate trade, investment, and cross-border travel. The meeting also welcomed the success of the IMT-GT Tourism Campaign Year 2023-2025, which significantly contributed to the tourism industry’s recovery, exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels, while driving the grassroots economy in IMT-GT areas and major tourist cities of the three countries.
As the Implementation Blueprint 2022-2026 enters its final year, the discussions and exchanges at the meeting reflected future cooperation approaches and strategic issues that align with global trends, which should be considered for inclusion in the new Implementation Blueprint 2027-2031. These include: (1) strengthening cross-border infrastructure connectivity to enhance transport and logistics efficiency in line with international standards, (2) sustainable urban and tourism development with emphasis on environmental conservation and local community participation, (3) environmentally friendly agriculture and agricultural product value addition through innovation, technology, and food safety standards, (4) strengthening digital capabilities and implementing digital technology for economic and social development in the subregion, and (5) workforce skills development to prepare for labor market changes and challenges from new global trends.
The meeting emphasized commitment to cooperating with member countries and development partners to ensure the new blueprint reflects the subregion’s shared vision, addresses economic, social, and environmental challenges, and delivers concrete benefits for people at all levels.
Additionally, the meeting discussed opportunities to develop energy cooperation in the subregion to enhance energy security and support clean energy transition, focusing on renewable energy development, Smart Grid enhancement, and Cross-border Power Connectivity cooperation to meet increasing energy demands and support sustainable economic growth. The Asian Development Bank and ASEAN Secretariat, as key development partners of IMT-GT, expressed their intention to provide technical and financial support for clean energy initiatives and sustainable development in the subregion.
The meeting also adopted the 31st Joint Ministerial Statement, affirming commitment to creating an integrated, innovation-driven, less inequitable, and sustainably growing subregion according to IMT-GT Vision 2036. This emphasizes environmentally friendly agricultural development, Halal industry capability development, and promotion of integrated transport connectivity, while supporting climate change resilience, digital innovation-driven growth, and workforce skills development to effectively address global challenges.
News/Images: International Strategy and Cooperation Coordination Division