Transport ministers from the four-country East Asean Growth Area (EAGA) have met in Davao City, Philippines, recently to sign agreements aimed at addressing issues about air, sea and land links in the area.

Philippine Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the talks focused mainly on passenger security and the transportation of air cargo, reports The Manila Inquirer.

Mr Mendoza said the talks with his counterparts Pehin Dato Abu Bakar Apong of Brunei, Jusman Syafii Djamal of Indonesia and Long See Wool of Malaysia would "go a long way in improving connectivity and growth".

Mr Mendoza also said the ministers agreed to upgrade infrastructure facilities to meet the expected growth in traffic volumes in the sub-region.

He also revealed that the ministers urged airlines operating in the area to establish partnerships and alliances "to take advantage of the vast opportunities presented by the expanded implementation of the fifth freedom rights, as taken up during the third BIMP-EAGA summit held last January 12 in Cebu".

EAGA-member countries agreed to adopt an open skies policy at the Cebu summit.