UNAND Participates in IMT-GT SPM 2024 Event

Padang (UNAND) - Dr. Eng. Muhammad Makky, the Director of Partnership and Innovation of Universitas Andalas (UNAND), represented UNAND as a delegate in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand-Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Strategic Planning Meeting (SPM) on Sunday-Monday, March 24-25, 2024, in Tangerang, Indonesia. This meeting discussed important topics related to IMT-GT projects under the Implementation Blueprint (IB) 2022-2026, identification of new projects, working group reports, joint business council (JBC), and University Network (UNINET).

Dr. Eng. Muhammad Makky stated, each delegation from IMT-GT reported progress from the three (3) countries under the IB 2022-2026 and UNINET Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2022-2026. He emphasized that UNAND continuously offers full support and participation in every agenda aimed at advancing the future of IMT-GT.

"Our commitment is evidenced by UNAND's involvement in every agenda organized by IMT-GT. We also recognize that UNAND's participation in IMT-GT yields positive impacts. We meet many partners within this organization. Hence, it opens opportunities for UNAND to establish collaborations and implement cooperation agreements in the form of memorandum of understanding (MoU), implementation arrangement (IA), and other forms of cooperation agreements between parties," he explained.

Dr. Eng. Muhammad Makky elaborated that each delegate present at this event sought to highlight several issues within IMT-GT UNINET, such as the need for UNINET to expand its membership (both from public and private campuses), initiative to establish IMT-GT UNINET Halal in supporting the Working Halal Group, support for all working groups in the IMT-GT region, and opportunities for research funding for lecturers from ministries, industries, and universities.

"We encourage IMT-GT UNINET to reassess priorities concerning issues with the most significant impact on the development of IMT-GT UNINET. For instance, membership expansion. Based on our discussions, Malaysia is willing to add members from both public and private universities in their country. Furthermore, to support the Working Halal Group, we also endeavor to establish halal blockchain and halal collaboration among the three countries," he added.

Dr. Eng. Muhammad Makky further explained, this meeting also encouraged JBC to achieve the IB 2022-2026 target indicators and support the implementation of working group projects. He noted that several delegates also sought support from JBC to streamline promotional campaign activities within JBC events. Additionally, the delegates hoped to receive JBC support regarding tourism and transportation dialogues within IMT-GT by involving business activities in the tourism and transportation industries.

"This discussion also highlights previous guidance on trade and investment established by leaders and ministers. In this regard, we also encourage JBC to cross-check this guidance through collaborative projects. Thus, every challenge and issue can be collectively addressed. The more ideas contributed, the more alternative solutions can be explored," he clarified.

Amri Bukhairi Bakhtiar, the Director of the Center for IMT-GT (CIMT) stated, CIMT remains committed to collaborating with JBC in implementing projects and programs in each sub-region.

"This meeting is crucial as it will have a significant impact on JBC activities in the future. Therefore, let us work together to weave every idea and proposal provided by our colleagues. Thus, these ideas can be crafted into something beneficial for JBC and IMT-GT," he concluded.