The Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle
(IMT-GT)
Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) idea was initiated by former Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad. In 1993, the former President of Indonesia, H.E. Suharto, Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Chuan Leekpai and HE. Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad was endorsed the formalization of IMT-GT in Langkawi, Malaysia. IMT-GT is a region of dynamic growth that draws from the strong economic complementarities of the three countries, their geographical proximity, as well as their close historical, cultural, and linguistic ties. Southern Thailand and Northern Malaysia share a land border, which accentuates complementarities, and are separated from Sumatra only by the narrow Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest and important commercial sea routes in the region. Cooperation under the IMT-GT sub regional program is an initiative aiming to stimulate economic development in the less developed provinces of the three participating countries - 32 provinces and states in total, with an estimated population of 78 million in 2012.