| Azaraimy HH |
BRUNEI is poised to witness another major leap in aquaculture industry with Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd setting sights on an additional production target of at least 2,500 metric tonnes of blue shrimp at its newly leased 200-hectare onshore aquaculture farm in Mukim Telisai, Tutong.
This addition, according to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), will make the Sultanate the largest producer of rostris blue shrimp in the world.
This was revealed during the signing ceremony for the Sungai Penyatang shrimp farming land lease and operation agreement between the Department of Fisheries under the MPRT and Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd.
Besides the signing of the land lease agreement, Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd also inked two separate memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with its marketing partners Unima Distribution SAS for exports to European Union and Aqua Star Pty Ltd for exports to Australia. These exports are expected to exceed $25 million per year and they have been made possible through the Department of Fisheries’ efforts in clearing the regulatory channels for both markets.
Present as the guest of honour at the signing ceremony was Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, in a group photo with Loan Forgeron, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Brunei Darussalam and Nicola Rosenblum, High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Darussalam along with other signatories from Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Unima Distribution and Aqua Star Pty Ltd
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong and other guests taking a closer look at harvested blue shrimp at the event. – PHOTOS: AZARAIMY HH
Also in attendance were Loan Forgeron, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Brunei Darussalam; Nicola Rosenblum, High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Darussalam; members of the Legislative Council from Tutong District YB Haji Umarali bin Esung, YB Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong and YB Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit; as well as permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries.
Signing on behalf of the Department of Fisheries were Haji Abdul Halidi bin Haji Mohd Salleh, its Director and Mariani binti Haji Sabtu, Acting Deputy Director while singing on behalf of Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd were Richard Chuang His Shan, Managing Director and Desmond Lim, Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Amyne Hassam Ismail, Chairman and Rao Manavendra, CEO signed for Unima Distribution, France while signing on behalf of Aqua Star, Australia were Allen Wu, Director and Shang Ling Gan, a representative.
According to MPRT, Golden Corporation will invest an estimated amount of $30 million to develop these 200 hectares site to support MPRT’s five-year strategic plan of increasing aquaculture output for export markets.
For Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd, this is another key milestone that will deepen its commitment to Brunei Darussalam and provide shrimps as raw materials for its processing plants which will then be exported.
Together with its strategic partner, Semaun Marine Resources (SMR), a quasi-government corporate entity, Golden Corporation operates a Multi-Purpose Marine Resources Processing and Business Centre, located at Serambangun Industrial Site in Tutong, which is the first seafood processing plant in Brunei, operating since 2012. Golden Corporation also operates its own fishing vessels that are equipped with latest technologies, operating in deeper marine zone which are unable to reach by local fishermen.
According to MPRT, Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd has invested more than $40 million in Brunei Darussalam and its investment covers the whole value chain of aquaculture that ranges from fishing vessels, feed mill, hatchery, grow-out ponds to value-added processing plants. Currently, the company provides more than 120 jobs to locals and it expects to employ an additional 80 locals with the implementation of expansion plans.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong said increasing output is one of the four pillars of MPRT’s strategic plan launched in January this year.
“Fisheries, especially aquaculture, is a highly lucrative business venture and is an economic sector that can contribute significantly to our national GDP. It can also create meaningful employment for the locals.
“I understand that the expected production from this farm is 3,000 metric tonnes per year. This will contribute significantly towards the achievement of Department of Fisheries’ $400 million target for aquaculture industry by 2020. This would also mean that Brunei Darussalam would be one of the biggest producers of blue shrimp in the world,” he said.
The minister urged the local farmers to ensure that the Good Aquaculture Practice (GAqP) guidelines are diligently applied in their daily farm operations. “Strict application of GAqP guidelines by all farm workers will ensure the production of high quality and safer products. If all strictly follow the guidelines, then the risks of disease outbreak in Brunei Darussalam can be eliminated. This will ensure that our national productivity and economic growth agenda for the primary resources sector are kept on track.”
Yesterday’s signing ceremony marks the start of an initiative to increase the export volume of seafood products from the country. For this, the minister conveyed special thanks to Amyne Hassam Ismail of Unima Distribution SAS, France and Allen Wu of Aqua Star Pty Ltd, Australia for appreciating Brunei’s blue shrimp and agreeing to be the distributors for EU and Australian markets respectively.
“As we all know, customers will always demand new seafood. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome proposals and initiatives by any companies or farmers who wish to venture into projects to develop new hybrids. We are also open to suggestions for collaboration in areas of applied research and development (R&D),” he said.
The minister also highlighted that Golden Corporation will embark on such R&D projects this year in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries and various renowned institutions in Brunei and overseas.
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