PUTRAJAYA (Bernama) – Malaysia and Brunei have reiterated their commitment to enhance economic cooperation especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
In a joint statement of the 20th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia yesterday, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato Laila Utama Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak said bilateral trade and investment flows between the two countries remained strong, and acknowledged that there was still untapped economic potential.
“The leaders therefore proposed for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of both countries to work together to explore business opportunities, and were pleased to note that a business forum focusing on SMEs from Brunei and Malaysia will be organised in Brunei in the first half of 2017,” said the joint statement.
The business forum will be a good platform for SMEs across a wide range of sectors to network, exchange experiences and discuss business prospects in order to enhance trade and investment cooperation between both countries, added the joint statement.
Also present was Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam.
Their Majesties arrived in Malaysia on October 3.
Accompanying Their Majesties to the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office were Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Upon arrival at the Prime Minister’s Office, Their Majesties were welcomed by Dato Laila Utama Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib and wife Datin Sri Rosmah binti Mansor.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato Laila Utama Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak during 20th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. – BERNAMA
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato Laila Utama Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak witnessing the exchanging of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office and Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, Malaysia’s Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister. – INFOFOTO
Meanwhile, His Majesty and the Malaysian Prime Minister witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and further develop cooperation between the two countries in the field of green technology.
Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office and Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, Malaysia’s Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister signed the MoU.
Under the MoU, Malaysia and Brunei will take the necessary steps to encourage and promote technical cooperation in green technology in various areas.
Earlier, His Majesty and the Malaysian Prime Minister held a four-eyed meeting at the Perdana Putra Building in conjunction with the 20th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
Both leaders also expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of their meeting and looked forward to the implementation of the decisions reached to further deepen bilateral relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Brunei.
According to the joint statement, the leaders also urged officials of both countries to intensify their discussions with a view to establishing an MoU or other appropriate framework to enable the early operationalisation of the provisions of the exchange of letters relating to maritime access.
“In this regard, both leaders urged that efforts be intensified to enable the early conclusion of the discussions,” it added.
The leaders also looked forward to bilateral agricultural cooperation between Brunei and Sarawak in rice production, livestock and aquaculture.
“They noted the intention of Brunei and Sarawak to cooperate in the field of crude palm oil in the future,” said the joint statement.
Both leaders also encouraged Petronas and PetroleumBRUNEI to enhance collaboration towards realising an offshore hub to support the development of hydrocarbon resources from Block CA2 in ensuring sustainable gas production for Brunei.
“The leaders were committed for Petronas and PetroleumBRUNEI to commercialise recent discoveries in Block CA2 at the most commercially viable opportunity, in order to maximise returns on investment to both parties,” said the joint statement.
His Majesty and the Malaysian Prime Minister also welcomed Petronas and Brunei National Utilisation Secretariat’s intent to appoint an independent external expert to resolve uncertainties pertaining to the technicalities of the proposed unitisation of the Kinabalu West NAG and Maharajalela North fields.
“The anticipated resolution will account for fair, equal and transparent concurrence intent to finalise the unitisation arrangement for both the Kinabalu West and Gumusut/Kakap as well as Geronggong/Jagus East fields within the first quarter of 2017,” said the joint statement.
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