| Danial Norjidi |
INDIA Investrade 2016, a three-day multi-sector exhibition and buyer-seller meet was officially launched yesterday at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
The event is a joint initiative organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata and the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, with the support of the High Commission of India in Brunei Darussalam; the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, Brunei Darussalam; and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam.
Nagma Mohamed Mallick, the High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam, highlighted in a speech yesterday that India Investrade 2016 is “the first exclusively Indian commercial exhibition and buyer-seller meet to be held in Brunei”.
The exhibition involves around 25 companies, which represent diverse sectors, including industrial machinery, electronic equipment and IT consultancies to name a few, along with textiles such as pashmina shawls, scarves, hijabs and home décor items.
Yesterday’s opening ceremony began with a Brunei-India Business Forum and saw the attendance of Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, Acting Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office as the guest of honour.
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, Acting Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Nagma Mohamed Mallick, the High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam, touring one of the booths during the India Investrade 2016, a three-day multi-sector exhibition and buyer-seller meet. – AZROL AZMI
“Brunei Darussalam has always had good relations with India,” he said in a speech yesterday. “India is an important partner for peace, stability as well as prosperity, and one of our largest trading partners.”
“We have always valued the cooperation between our countries at a national level as well as at a regional level,” he continued. “We already enjoy trade and investment cooperation, and it is great to be able to enhance this cooperation through your visit to Brunei Darussalam.”
“I am pleased that this trade and investment mission will be one of the platforms to foster meaningful business interactions and to explore investment opportunities,” he added.
The business forum also saw presentations from Dr Denny Muslim, Executive Officer, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Promotion, Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) entitled “Invest in Brunei Darussalam” and Nirmit Narendra Ved, Deputy General Manager of EXIM Bank of India on the ‘Role and Functions of EXIM Bank in financing overseas trade and investments’.
Following the forum, the High Commissioner of India led the guest of honour to officially open the India Investrade 2016 Expo by cutting a ribbon, after which a tour of the exhibition ensued.
After the launch of the expo, a number of bilateral sessions were held in the afternoon between the visiting business delegation from India and the BEDB; the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Brunei; the Malay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and National Chamber of Commerce & Industry; The Brunei Darussalam International Chamber of Commerce; and the Federation of Brunei Malay Entrepreneurs.
Today and tomorrow will see open business-to-business (B2B) networking sessions held on the sidelines of the expo.
The objective of India Investrade is to raise awareness on the economic potential between India and Brunei at national and international levels through trade and investment shows, as well as to build meaningful synergies between industry and government through trade and business delegation exchanges and investment forums.
The India Investrade 2016 Expo is open to the public, and those who wish to visit expo can do so at Sepakat 3, ICC, Berakas from 8.30am-9.30pm on Friday, September 16 and from 9am-9.30pm on Saturday, September 17.
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