Malaysian Consul General Deddy Faisal Ahmad Salleh has called for stronger business and investment ties between Mindanao and Sarawak, saying closer connectivity could unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism and regional development.
Speaking at the Davao-Borneo Growth Corridor Forum 2026 in Davao City on Friday, Salleh said the Brunei–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) provides an important platform for deepening economic cooperation between Mindanao and Borneo.
“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.
A native of Sarawak, Salleh said Borneo should be viewed not only as a geographic region but also as a network of communities, industries and resources that can be more closely linked 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 BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 offers a renewed framework for cooperation in areas including food security, sustainable tourism, regional value chains, connectivity and workforce development.
“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, fisheries, halal industries, tourism, logistics, renewable energy and the digital economy as potential areas for stronger commercial partnerships between Sarawak and Mindanao.
He also cited opportunities in business-to-business partnerships, improved logistics and cold-chain systems, halal value chains, tourism circuits 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.
Salleh said the proposed corridor should move from a broad concept to concrete business initiatives.
“This is where One Corridor, One Future becomes more than a vision. It becomes a working agenda,” he said.
He also 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.
Salleh said Sarawak’s goal of becoming a major food producer and net exporter could open opportunities for complementary partnerships with producers and businesses in Mindanao.
He called for closer collaboration among governments, chambers of commerce, businesses, universities and development institutions to identify projects 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,” Salleh said. “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.”
Salleh said BIMP-EAGA Vision 2035 should complement the broader ASEAN 2045 agenda by strengthening regional value chains, reducing the cost of moving goods and people, and ensuring that economic integration benefits communities beyond major economic 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.
