| Danial Norjidi |
THE Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) recently launched its 2016-2020 strategic plan, which sees the ministry intensify its efforts to create new employment opportunities and also boost the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The ambitious five-year plan is for all departments under the ministry, and was officially launched by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism during a ceremony on January 9.
The new strategic plan is aimed at creating more jobs for the local people, in addition to boosting the productivity and export values of the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries through the use of high-tech methods, while also developing the tourism industry. To achieve those goals, including a significant growth in Brunei’s GDP by 2020, the ministry will work on increasing product yields from local agricultural and agrifood sector as well as aquaculture and seafood industries.
The 2016-2010 Strategic Plan carries the vision ‘Towards a Rapid Growth of Primary Resources Products and Tourism and Contribute to Economic Growth to Achieve Brunei Vision 2035’, with a mission of leading growth in the primary resources and tourism industry to become a contributor to growth in GDP by promoting investment both locally and abroad, improving product improvement and high-tech usage as well promoting exports.
It is stated on the MPRT website that, in line with the aforementioned vision and mission, the ministry’s emphasis will be on four core pillars, namely: growth, productivity, export and sustainability.
The strategic plan also describes the ministry’s strategic goals, which include: Increase the number and value of exports from the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries; reduce reliance on imported food products but be open to increased imports of materials for the processing industry; increase national income through foreign exchange generated from export activities and tourism; increase growth in the number of tourist arrivals and growth in services related to tourism in the country in order to contribute significantly to GDP growth; create employment opportunities for locals; and reduce reliance on government spending to implement strategies and programs to increase the output of industries using methods such as public private partnership, joint venture and others.
It is stated on the website that, for the period of 2016 to 2020, the ministry is targeting for the gross output of the primary resources industry to increase from $511 million in 2015 to $1.8 billion by 2020 – an average increase of 28.8 per cent per annum. As such, the contribution of agriculture, fisheries and forestry will increase from 1 per cent of GDP in 2015 to 5 per cent of GDP by 2020.
To achieve the 2016-2020 targets and trajectories, the ministry through its relevant departments will focus on a number of key industries, including: The meat and poultry industry; vegetable industry; cut flowers industry; agri-food industry; aquaculture (fish farming in offshore cages and shrimp farming); seafood processing industry; and downstream value-added forestry.
For the tourism sector, the ministry is targeting for the number of tourist arrivals to increase from 218,000 in 2015 to 450,000 in 2020, at an average increase of 5.9 per cent per annum. The income from the tourism sector is expected to reach $335 million by 2020.
Through the strategic plan, the ministry is also aiming to be able to create job opportunities for the locals. Up to 2020, the agriculture industry is expected to generate more than 4,800 additional jobs, the fisheries industry more than 2,500 additional jobs, the forestry industry more than 360 additional jobs and the tourism industry more than 330 additional jobs.
During the launch of the strategic plan, the Minister of Primary Resources and Trade delivered a speech, in which he called on all MPRT officers to increase efforts towards realising the objectives of the newly implemented plan, reminding them of the need to change mindset in successfully accomplishing their tasks.
The launching ceremony also saw the presentation of the 2016-2020 strategic plan to the permanent and deputy permanent secretaries by selected officers from all departments under the ministry.
Also among those present at the launching were Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, the Permanent Secretary at the MPRT; and Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the MPRT.
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