Cautious Optimism Over $2.3b Pulau Muara Port Project
By Hadi DP Mahmud and Sobrina Rosli

Bandar Seri Begawan -Businessmen are cautiously optimistic about the potential of the $2.3 billion Pulau Muara Besar (PMB) port project to compete with established regional transshipment hubs, such as the Port of Singapore and Malaysia's Port Klang.

However, they have raised questions over Brunei's chances of overcoming issues about manpower, infrastructure and free trade zones, which are deemed critical for the facility to compete with its regional rivals.

The Brunei Economic Development Board said recently it was in final stages of talks with a consortium being considered for the management of what Brunei envisions to be regional player in the port business.

According to an Economist Intelligence Unit country report on Brunei, the facility is set for construction later this year.

Some members of the business community remain optimistic on the facility's potential to compete with the Port of Singapore, currently the world's busiest port in terms of total shipping tonnage and Malaysia's Port Klang, which handles 3.6 million TEUs (20-ft equivalent unit) per annum.

Sujit K Ghosh, director of Nur EWC, a company specialising in environmental and water construction, is optimistic despite concerns over the shortage of manpower to operate the facility.

"Human resources is not a problem as it can be overcome with proper policies and positive mindset of the authorities," said Sujit.

"The location is also good-To the north there is access to China, Hong Kong and Japan; to the east Malaysia and down below Indonesia," he said.

Wan Nasyran Osman, East Operation manager of Mashor company, echoes the optimism on PMB's strategic location.

"Other than PMB's strategic location, Brunei already has the necessary infrastructure to set up decent logistics services," said Wan Nasyran.

However, some in the business community are concerned with manpower issues and PMB's infrastructure.

A businessman interviewed by The Brunei Times stated the need to "clearly identify the issue of the nation's small population size", whether it could sustain operations in the long run.

"As far as I know, there are no free trade zones present within PMB. User-friendliness of the facility is uncertain, too. When people use our ports, they want to feel comfortable in, the process," he said.

A free port, where goods can come in and out without tariffs, find it easier to work with another free port.

"However, it cannot be denied that we still have the best routes available for us to take advantage of," he said, referring to the establishment of a trading port in Brunei in 1526, which made Brunei an essential port in the trade route stretching from China to Malaysia.

Most importantly, Brunei's technological infrastructure has to be on the same level as Malaysia's or Singapore's, stressed Sujit. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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