| Azlan Othman |
GLOBAL port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) said it will provide world-class services at the Muara Port, fully supporting the Brunei Government’s ambitious Vision 2035 development plan.
ICTSI, through its Brunei unit New Muara Container Terminal Services Sdn Bhd (NMCTS), is currently operating the Muara Container Terminal (MCT) with the help of Bruneian workforce and suppliers.
Currently, 85 per cent of NMCTS’ work is manned by Bruneians and supported by local businesses.
“MCT is key to achieving the goals of Vision 2035. The country needs a world-class trading gateway to develop a more vibrant Brunei economy that is capable of creating quality employment opportunities for Bruneians,” said Manuel De Jesus, ICTSI Vice-President for Business Development (Asia).
ICTSI also expressed support for the government’s goal of further developing the Muara Port into a modern facility on par with the best in the region.
“As we pursue a more long-term development plan in Brunei, ICTSI will continue to be an able partner in achieving the goals of Vision 2035. We will continuously implement global best practices, deploy modern port technology and investments in human development in the years to come,” De Jesus said.
ICTSI’s pledge to help promote Brunei’s economic growth is also in line with China’s Maritime Silk Road initiative, which fosters intra-regional trade in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and North Africa via the South China Sea, South Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean through investments from Beijing, he added.
China has already put up an aggressive investment portfolio in Brunei that includes the development of Pulau Muara Besar, a 955-hectare industrial port complex in Brunei Bay. The Philippines is also taking advantage of the revival of Silk Road with China. Aside from Muara in Brunei, ICTSI also has operations in the ports of Silk Road economies such as Umm Qasr in Iraq, Karachi in Pakistan, Jakarta and Makassar in Indonesia, Manila and five other ports in its country headquarters, the Philippines, and Yantai in China.
“ICTSI’s successful port operations around the world are being replicated in Brunei and that will continue in the years to come,” Reimond Silvestre, General Manager of NMCTS, said.
“Our experiences show that ICTSI is able to partner with different governments to develop ports as drivers of economic growth and development. And because we are backed by international financial institutions due to our solid 30 years of successful operations in managing ports around the world, we have become the preferred partner of governments in at least 20 countries.
“We are very optimistic and thankful to our partnerships with public and private organisations around the world including those in Brunei because they have brought tremendous benefits to people involved in the projects. We look forward to further improving and expanding our partnership with Bruneians as we develop and implement our long-term development goals in the Sultanate,” Silvestre added.
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