2. Trade will continue to be one of the main cornerstones of BIMP-EAGA cooperation. As such, we are pleased to note that total trade value of BIMP-EAGA grew significantly by 70% from USD 100 billion in 2009 to USD 170 billion in 2011. Intra-EAGA trade represented nearly 25% of the total EAGA trade over the same period. We are also pleased to note the positive trend in foreign direct investment in BIMP-EAGA Member Countries have grown significantly by 129% from USD 24 billion in 2009 to USD 55 billion in 2011.
3. We are pleased with the progress in implementing the Priority Infrastructure Projects, since our endorsement of the Implementation Blueprint (IB) 2012 - 2016 at the 8th BIMP-EAGA Summit in 2012. We took note that the 2013-2014 rolling pipeline projects that have been identified will further contribute to the attainment of the BIMP-EAGA vision. We look forward to the finalisation of the “Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Framework” to provide indicators and assessment of the substantive outcomes and impacts of these projects to our community. We reiterated on the need for effective and timely implementation of the IB and therefore, we tasked our Sectoral Ministers to jointly coordinate and implement these BIMP-EAGA priority projects.