Malaysian Consul General Deddy Faisal Ahmad Salleh is pushing for stronger business and investment links between Mindanao and Borneo, saying closer connectivity could turn the geographic proximity of the two regions into new economic opportunities.
Speaking at the “One Corridor, One Future: Connecting Mindanao and Borneo” forum Davao-Borneo Growth Corridor Forum in Davao City on Friday, Salleh said Malaysia sees the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) platform as a key mechanism for deepening economic cooperation between the neighboring regions.
“For Malaysia, this is not simply a discussion about geography. It is about how we turn proximity into connectivity, connectivity into economic opportunity, and economic opportunity into shared prosperity,” Salleh said.
The Malaysian diplomat, who is from Sarawak, said Borneo is not merely a geographic area but home to communities, industries and resources that can be better connected with Mindanao.
“I come from Sarawak. For us in Sarawak, Borneo is not an abstract concept on a map. It is home. It is where our communities live, where our resources are produced, and where our future is being shaped,” he said.
Salleh said the adoption of the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 provides a renewed framework for cooperation, particularly in food security, sustainable tourism, regional value chains, connectivity and workforce development.
“For Malaysia, the question now is no longer whether we should cooperate. The question is: How do we make that cooperation work better, faster and closer to the ground?” he said.
He identified agriculture, food security, fisheries, halal industries, tourism, logistics, renewable energy and the digital economy as areas where Sarawak and Mindanao could develop stronger commercial ties.
He also pointed to the potential for business-to-business partnerships, improved logistics and cold-chain systems, halal value chains, tourism routes and workforce development.
“I see considerable scope for our institutions, businesses and communities to explore how Sarawak and Mindanao can complement one another,” Salleh said.
He said the proposed corridor should move beyond being a concept and become a practical business agenda.
“This is where One Corridor, One Future becomes more than a vision. It becomes a working agenda,” he said.
Salleh highlighted the visit of Sarawak Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom to Davao City as an opportunity to explore cooperation in agriculture, food production, agro-processing, food security and supply-chain development.
He said Sarawak’s ambition to become a major food producer and net exporter could create opportunities for complementary partnerships with Mindanao producers and businesses.
Salleh also called for closer cooperation among governments, chambers of commerce, businesses, universities and development institutions to identify initiatives that can move from discussions to implementation.
“Because ultimately, the success of BIMP-EAGA will not be measured by the number of meetings we hold. It will be measured by whether businesses find new markets. Whether farmers and producers can sell more. Whether investors find new opportunities. Whether tourists can travel more easily. Whether young people gain better employment. And whether our communities see tangible improvements in their quality of life,” he said.
Salleh said BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 should complement the broader ASEAN 2045 agenda by strengthening regional value chains, lowering the cost of moving goods and people, and ensuring that economic integration benefits communities beyond major centers.
“For me, therefore, One Corridor, One Future is ultimately about people. Our task now is to build the connectivity that turns that geographical proximity into lasting economic opportunity,” he said.
