| James Kon |
THE Minister of Health, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, lauded the positive development of health-related business avenues and opportunities, which he said could be explored to bring forward more healthy concepts and to further develop Brunei’s health agenda.
Businesses, said the minister, “In areas such as sports and wellness, food industries, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and many others, can also help provide jobs and training opportunities for our locals, and will boost the socio-economic development of our population. This will also have a positive impact towards the progress of Brunei Darussalam’s Vision 2035 for quality of life and a well-educated, highly skilled population, with a dynamic and sustainable economy.”
The minister was speaking as the guest of honour at the French-Bruneian Business Association (FBBA) annual dinner last Saturday, at the Tarindak D’Seni.
The minister also touched on Brunei Darussalam’s recent achievements in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2018, saying, “Recently, Brunei Darussalam was announced as the most improved economy in the world, for the third year in a row in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2018 rankings, which is 56th worldwide, 11th in the Asia-Pacific Region and fourth within Asean.
“The Government of 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, is committed towards improving the business environment for not only domestic businesses, but also to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country.
“Businesses mean people, interaction of lifestyles and diversity, transference of technical knowledge as well as living standards. One of our strategic priorities in the Ministry of Health is to prevent and reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Towards this, we are aiming to increase health literacy among our society. Everyone needs to play an active role in maintaining their health. Many organisations have now made good health and wellbeing of their employees as central to their workplace policy.
“In addition, organisations are also driving health agendas in their corporate social responsibilities. On this note, His Majesty, in his titah during the Knowledge Convention in 2012, highlighted the important role of a healthy population towards a more productive nation.”
In her address, Loan Forgeron, the outgoing French Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam thanked Pierre Imhof, the President of the FBBA, along with the association’s committee for their efforts to forge business relation between Brunei and France.
Forgeron hoped that more French SMEs would be interested to work on a joint venture with their Bruneian counterparts, through FBBA.
The President of FBBA, Pierre Imhof, who is also the CEO of Baiduri Bank Berhad, meanwhile, described the FBBA as a bilateral business association for the building of friendships, trust and confidence between French-Bruneian entrepreneurs.
“Therefore, I hope that more people will join the association,” he said.
Also present at the event was Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, and several foreign diplomats.
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