| Abdul Hakiim Yakof |
ONE-HUNDRED-AND-NINETEEN Bruneian companies departed for the upcoming 14th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) yesterday at the Brunei International Airport. The expo will take place in Nanning, China at the Nanning International Conference and Exhibition Centre (NICEC) from September 12-15.
Joining the delegates were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; 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; Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance; Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism; and Dato Paduka Haji Mohammed Nor bin Haji Jeludin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The main objective of taking part in this expo is for Brunei’s local businesses to benchmark their products and services with other Asean and China counterparts and as well as creating opportunities to seek potential distribution and supply channels.
Seven categories of industries took part in the expo: seven educational institutions, 48 food and beverage companies, 15 fashion and handicraft companies, 11 healthcare and cosmetic companies, two companies producing household products, eight manufacturing companies, and 28 companies providing services.
The opening of the 14th CAEXPO event as well as the opening of both commodities at the commodity pavilion and the city of charm pavilion will be launched by 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.
A Business Matching Meeting on Tourism Cooperation will be represented by Dr Haji Abdul Manaf on September 13.
Exhibitors and visitors also have the opportunity to further leverage on the Chinese Asean Free Trade Area (CAFTA) – the biggest trade area in terms of population whereby there are 1.85 billion consumers and a combined GDP of almost US$2.5 trillion.
Under the circumstances of CAFTA, Asean member states can trade with China, and vice versa, with no tariffs and barriers that may impede its flow.
Industries have access to new markets, leading to an increase in consumers. Consumers also benefit from tax-free purchases while merchants can reetain reasonable prices. The CAEXPO acts as a key platform for the exposure of Asean businesses’ goods and services.
This year’s CAEXPO participants will also be joined by representatives from Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, DARe (Darussalam Enterprise), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Brunei’s delegation of companies were also invited to a dinner hosted by Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng. Also in attendance were Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi, Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew and other government officials.
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