President Prabowo Calls for Stronger Regional Collaboration at BIMP-EAGA Summit

RRI.CO.ID, Cebu - Against the backdrop of mounting global challenges, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto urged ASEAN’s subregional partners to strengthen collaboration and deliver tangible benefits for their people.

His remarks came during the Special Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit, held as part of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

In his address, President Prabowo highlighted the need for concrete cooperation in energy and food security, stressing that the forum was convened at a critical moment. “This Special Summit comes at a very urgent time. The challenges we face demand closer and more effective collaboration among us,” he said.

The President began by expressing appreciation to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the warm welcome, noting that the gathering was taking place amid increasingly complex global dynamics.

He emphasized that BIMP-EAGA must evolve to remain responsive to the changing needs of communities across the region. “With that spirit, BIMP-EAGA must continue to grow. It must be more adaptive, more impactful, and more responsive to the needs of our people,” President Prabowo stated.

He also underscored that safeguarding the safety and livelihoods of citizens should remain the top priority for member states. The BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035, he noted, provides a clear roadmap for regional development.

“Our priority is clear -- protecting the safety and livelihoods of our people. Vision 2035 has given us direction. Now the task is to realize it,” he said.

From Cebu, President Prabowo reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN solidarity in navigating global complexities. He stressed that closer cooperation among ASEAN nations is key to ensuring resilience and stability across the region. (Sri Wahyuni/Bambang MBKA)