Trade delegation leaves for Kuching
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Hj Osman Hj Omar

In their zest to re-activate the intra-EAGA business activities which was slowed down by the Asian financial crisis of 1997, a trade delegation comprising of BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippine East Asia Growth Area) and Brunei Darussalam Business Council (BBDBC) members will depart for Kuching, Sarawak today.

The May 5-8 trade visit led by the 1st Deputy Chairman of BBDBC, Hj Ibrahim Hj Awg Damit is a continuation of the Pontianak trip, which was conducted last April.

While in Kuching, the Brunei delegation will be attending meetings with their Malaysian counterpart, the BIMP-EAGA Malaysian Business Council. Its chairman, Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg is expected to greet them on arrival to Kuching.

Awg Hj Osman bin Hj Omar the 2nd Deputy Chairman of BBDBC said the Brunei delegation will explore trade opportunities as well find solutions to the key constraints standing in the way of economic co-operation within BIMP-EAGA.

He said they will be discussing arising issues in fisheries, tourism, sea-linkages and transportation which will be prepared before being presented at the BIMP-EAGA Senior Officers Meeting (SOM) to be held in early June in Manila.

"The transportation infrastructure, for example, lacks regular shipping services, few direct air and sea freight connections to export markets and high cost of sea and air transport," he added.

The BIMP-EAGA is a grouping of Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan in Malaysia, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya in Indonesia, Mindanao Island and Palawan Province in The Philippines.

It has a combined population of 55 million people, rich in natural and mineral resources, agriculture and marine resources but in most parts remain largely unexploited.

He said they will also be seeking permission from the Malaysian government over plans to transport goods vis-à-vis road between Kalimantan and Brunei Darussalam which will need to pass through Sarawak.

Courtesy of Sunday Bulletin