| By Azlan Othman in
Tokyo
Mr Sone
Consumers in Brunei will be the
beneficiaries of cheaper goods from Japan and vice versa when
the much-publicised Brunei-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) gets
under way.
The proposed FTA is expected to
cover a wide spectrum of products and services from both
countries. Once the FTA is established, at least 90-95 per cent
of the products traded now will have no tariffs imposed.
This was disclosed by a senior
Japanese Foreign Ministry official speaking to the Borneo
Bulletin in an interview held in Tokyo.
The official also hinted at the
possibility of opening up more areas of cooperation by the two
countries to further enhance the proposed FTA.
"Economically, the two
countries must look for more areas of cooperation. We have to
study more in detail," said Mr. Sone, Deputy Director,
Regional Policy Division, Asian and Oceania Affairs Bureau,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. `
"The elimination of tariff
means more cheaper products will be traded between both
countries," he added.
The FTA between Japan and each
Asean country will take into account the sensitive areas and
economic levels of each country.
Japan and Brunei will begin
looking into the possibility of reaching a free trade agreement.
This was revealed by Japanese Senior Vice Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Tetsuro Yano, who recently visited Brunei and
discussed this matter with Brunei's Minister of Industry and
Primary Resources, Pehin Dato Hj Abdul Rahman Taib.
Mr. Yano said his proposal was
received favourably and that the two countries are expected to
start considering when to set up a working team in order to
discuss a FTA. Yano said Brunei favourably received the idea.
Mr. Yano's mission also
included the follow up of Prime Minister Koizumi's five
initiatives which he advocated during his visit to Asean
countries last January. The initiatives comprise "Asean-Japan
Comprehensive Economic Partnership" and "Asean-Japan
Exchange Year 2003".
Mr. Sone said, "We are
serious in implementing the FTA between Asean and Japan as China
also has created a similar FTA with Asean within the same
period."
Meanwhile one of the other five
initiatives is the designation of 2003 as Asean-Japan Exchange
Year whereby each of the ten Asean countries and Japan has been
designated as a key coordinator every month so that they can
fully contribute to the Exchange Year.
The exchange programme covers
wide range of areas such as politics, economy, security,
education and science as well as culture and arts. It will
deepen Asean-Japan mutual exchanges and enhance vitality of both
Asean and Japan.
Brunei will coordinate the
month of May whereby an exhibition of kites and tops will be
held in Brunei.
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