Japanese Co Looks To Build Plant In Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan - PHARMEX Japan - a Japanese company specialising in the export of Japanese generic drugs - is looking to build a pharmaceutical packaging plant in Brunei Darussalam.

If successful in obtaining the halal certification from the certifying authorities of Brunei for their processing plant and products, the company hopes to be able to qualify to package the medicines under the Brunei Halal brand, with Brunei Darussalam as the base of medicine supply to Muslim consumers around the world, a BEDB press release said.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in order to underscore the commitment of the parties towards realising the successful implementation of Pharmex's proposal was yesterday held in Tokyo during the Brunei Investment Seminar.

The seminar is organised by the Brunei Economic Development Board, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Asean-Japan Centre with strong support of the Japan Brunei Friendship Association, a reciprocal Brunei Japan Friendship Association partner based in Tokyo.

The MOU was signed by Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah bin Haji Abd Wahab, Mr Osamu Sato representing Pharmex Japan, and Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) Acting Chairman Dato Paduka Timothy Ong.

The Brunei Investment Seminar in Tokyo is a BEDB initiative to promote new investment opportunities in Brunei Darussalam to foreign investors. The Brunei government, through the MIPR and the BEDB, is focusing on petrochemicals like methanol, aquaculture and nature-based industries and Islamic business such as the branding of halal products.

The BEDB is also highlighting opportunities in infrastructure development such as export facility required by the methanol plant.

Under the MOU, the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and the Brunei Economic Development Board, in line with their respective roles, will facilitate and support Pharmex in the implementation of the proposal by facilitating discussions with relevant government agencies and potential local Brunei business partners.

Brunei Darussalam aims to play a significant role in the global Halal industry, currently estimated at more than US$500 billion.

The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources introduced Brunei's own Halal Brand in 2007 with the cooperation of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Health.

In its efforts to promote the brand, the ministry participated in the First Halal World Expo 2007 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and used the opportunity to promote the brand, the proposed Agro Technology Park, and the International Halal Expo 2008 to be held in Brunei and other investment opportunities in the country. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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