Trans-Asia highway connection

Recent discussions held in Indonesia’s North Kalimantan province with local officials and counterparts from Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines have focussed on improving transport connections. The four nations have been agreeing a strategy to develop connectivity for the East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) that they comprise. A target budget of some US$21.4 billion has been set for developing transport infrastructure, including roads and bridges, ports, airports and rail links. The four nations have agreed to establish two primary transport and communications corridors - the Greater Sulu, Sulawesi Economic Corridor and the West Borneo Economic Corridor. Indonesia’s priority projects for this programme of works include the Samarinda-Balikpapan toll road and Manado-Bitung toll road.