| Fizah HAB |
A NUMBER of Bruneian companies signed Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAA) with global Halal players from Malaysia during the International Halal Trade Hub and Service Trade Event 2018 signing ceremony held at the auditorium of the Design and Technology Building at Anggerek Desa Technology Park yesterday afternoon.
The signings, organised as part of the iCentre’s Cottage and Youth Initiative Programme (CYiP) and facilitated by BIMP-EAGA, were witnessed by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin as the guest of honour.
“The agreements aim to develop the country as a Halal hub not only for the local market but also to promote the production of Halal goods internationally, and to highlight the prominence of the international Halal market and Brunei’s role in it,” explained Captain (Rtd) Zailan bin Pehin Dato Mohd Don, Principal Mentor of the CYiP and advisor to the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD), during the event.
“Through International Halal Trade Hub and Services (IHTHS) Brunei and with Brunei’s geographical advantages and conducive socio-economic culture, the country has an advantageous position to trade both online and offline via local e-commerce platforms and through local and international traders.”
“With BIMP-EAGA’s support we have worked with other Asean Plus Three countries to establish an Asean economic community focussed on the Halal market in hopes of achieving smooth harmonisation and collaboration within Halal trade networks,” Captain (Rtd) Zailan added.
The event saw the signing of the SAA between IHTHS Brunei and Dewan Perniagaan Usahawan Sabah (DPUS) as well as the signing of an export agreement between Koperasi Pusat Pembangunan Belia (KOPPB), Bru Trade International (BTI) Sdn Bhd and Yusa Food Production Sdn Bhd.
Following the signings, the minister visited the CYiP Gallery located at the iCentre and the International Halal Trade Hub and Service Trade Event 2018 product gallery at the Knowledge Hub (KHub), where he witnessed further agreement signings between DSM Sabah and DSM Brunei, and Zulaikha Mega Enterprise Brunei and AFCL Bio-Science Sdn Bhd Sabah.
Other guests in attendance at the event included Legislative Council members YB Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii and YB Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari, Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council Executive Chairman Pengiran Yura Kesteria bin Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Yusof, NCCIBD Chairman Dr Haji Kamaruddin bin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib, foreign diplomats, members of chambers of commerce and international trade missions in the country, as well as delegates from Malaysia and Indonesia.
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