IMT-GT Delegations Arrive in Medan as Tourism Takes Center Stage

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have begun arriving in Medan ahead of the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). The arrival of delegates from the three countries highlights North Sumatra's preparations to host the subregional cooperation forum, which will take place from September 7 to 10, 2026.

The meeting will address several strategic issues aimed at strengthening regional cooperation. Tourism is among the key priorities on the agenda, with particular attention to the development of cross-border thematic travel packages, joint promotional initiatives, capacity building for the tourism industry, and the strengthening of the geopark network across the IMT-GT region.

The Head of the Regional Planning, Research and Innovation Agency (Bapperida) of North Sumatra Province, Dikky Anugerah, through Bapperida North Sumatra senior planner Muhammad Armand Effendy Pohan, said the 32nd IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting would bring together a wide range of stakeholders from the three member countries.

According to Effendy, the economic ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand will attend the forum. The event series will also bring together senior government officials, business association leaders through the Joint Business Council (JBC), as well as hundreds of businesspeople from across the subregion.

Delegations from Three Countries Arrive

Effendy said that, based on the consolidated arrival schedule, several participants had already arrived in Medan on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Among the early arrivals was Amri Bukhairi Bakhtiar, Director of the Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) from Malaysia.

Additional delegations are expected to arrive on Monday, September 7, 2026. Five delegates are scheduled for arrival that day: Hon. Edi Prio Pambudi, Senior Official from Indonesia; Hon. Datuk Dr. Zunika binti Mohamed, Senior Official from Malaysia; and Hon. Dr. Thuttai Keeratipongpaiboon, Senior Official from Thailand.

The list also includes Abu Bakar Hamzah, Head of Delegation of CMGF from Malaysia, and Hon. Mr. Songklod Sawangwong, Head of Delegation of CMGF from Thailand, who are scheduled to arrive in Medan on the same day.

The arrival of additional delegates will continue on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Six senior figures are expected to arrive that day, including H.E. Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; YB. Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir, Malaysia's Minister of Economy; and H.E. Thanadit Raktabutr, Vice Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand.

From international institutions, Nianshan Zhang, Director General and Head of the ADB Delegation of the Southeast Asia Department at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is also expected to attend. The participant list also includes Mr. Nararya S. Soeprapto, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN (ASEC), and Mr. Said Zaidansyah, Regional Head of the Regional Cooperation and Integration Unit of the Southeast Asia Department from Indonesia.

The presence of these senior representatives underscores the significance of the IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting as a platform for deepening coordination and exploring new opportunities for cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Tourism and Geoparks Take Center Stage

Effendy said the tourism sector is among the key areas of discussion within the IMT-GT working group. The forum will explore various forms of cooperation aimed at increasing the competitiveness of tourism destinations across the subregion.

The planned discussions include joint promotion, the development of cross-border thematic travel packages, and efforts to strengthen the capacity and services of the tourism industry. The cooperation is expected to improve connectivity between destinations and encourage greater tourist mobility among the member countries.

"Cooperation in the IMT-GT subregion's tourism sector takes place regularly. One of its forms is strengthening the potential and certification of the geopark network between Samosir and Langkawi in Malaysia," Effendy said on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Strengthening the geopark network between Samosir and Langkawi represents a concrete example of the potential for cross-border cooperation in tourism. Such collaboration could create opportunities to develop tourism destination marketing based on geology, the environment, culture and the economic development of local communities.

For North Sumatra, the agenda also carries strategic significance, as the province has extensive tourism potential that can be further developed through subregional cooperation. Lake Toba and the Samosir area are among the tourism assets that could benefit from stronger promotion and closer tourism networks within IMT-GT.

In addition to tourism, the forum will discuss coordination and the facilitation of cooperation in several strategic sectors. These include food security, agriculture, plantations and agribusiness, the development of industrial ecosystems, halal products and services, as well as logistics connectivity and transportation infrastructure between regions.

Effendy emphasized that the cooperation covers a broad range of areas and is not focused solely on increasing economic activity. Governments and other stakeholders are also promoting partnerships that support sustainable development across the region.

"It also involves facilitating trade integration and joint investment promotion, as well as environmental protection, disaster preparedness and climate resilience. This includes human resource development, improving social welfare, and integrating digital transformation with an integrated data system," he said.

North Sumatra Coordinates IMT-GT Cooperation

As part of the 32nd IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for September 7 to 10, 2026, North Sumatra is not only serving as the host. The North Sumatra Provincial Government also serves as the provincial coordinator of IMT-GT cooperation in Indonesia.

This position gives North Sumatra a strategic role in promoting cooperation among regions, particularly with other provinces on the island of Sumatra. Hosting the 32nd IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting in Medan also provides an opportunity to strengthen synergies in regional development.

The ten governors of Sumatra's provinces are expected to sign a joint agreement covering development cooperation, interregional collaboration and efforts to strengthen regional connectivity.

The signing will form part of a working meeting of Sumatra's ten governors, which is scheduled to take place in Medan on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The agenda is expected to strengthen coordination on regional development across Sumatra. Through improved connectivity and closer cooperation among provinces, the various economic potentials of each region can be better linked to regional markets.

Hosting the 32nd IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting in Medan therefore represents an important moment for North Sumatra to demonstrate its readiness to host an international cooperation forum while opening new opportunities in the fields of the economy, investment, tourism, trade and regional connectivity.

The arrival of delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand marks the beginning of this important series of events. Through the forum, the governments of the three countries, together with regional stakeholders, are expected to agree on concrete steps to strengthen economic integration and sustainable development across the IMT-GT area. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala

Surya Urges ICMI Muda to Make Concrete Contributions

Samsat Berkah Malam Launches in Medan, Extending Vehicle Tax Payment Hours

North Sumatra Strengthens Disaster Preparedness in Six High-Risk Areas

Hani Az Zahra Wins Gold at FORKI Medan 2026 Karate Championship

Gibran, Bobby Nasution Inspect Reconstruction of SMA Negeri 1 Barus

IMT-GT Forum Drives Tourism Promotion in North Sumatra