Brunei Attends Fisheries Conference In US
By Yusrin Junaidi

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei Darussalam delegation, led by Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid bin Mohd Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, attended the Global Shrimp Outlook/ Global Fish Outlook 2006 in Miami, Florida in the US. The conference was held from November 6 to 9.

Also in the delegation were Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim, Director of Fisheries, Hj Faizal Hj Yakub, Deputy Managing Director of Semaun Holdings Sdn Bhd, and senior officers from the Department of Fisheries.

The conference was a gathering of leading seafood sellers, buyers and distributors involved in the global market. It provided an opportunity for the Brunei delegation to learn and understand current development trends of the global shrimp market as well as issues on health, organic food, food safety and issues relating to the global fish market such as emerging fish species with the potential to be cultured, global fish marketing trends and food technologies.

The conference also allowed the Brunei delegation to form a business network with famous international seafood buyers. The delegation met and held a discussion with Darden Restaurants Company from the US, which was led by Red Lobster Restaurant President, Mr Kim Lopdrdp.

The restaurant chain is one of the biggest in the US with over 1,400 outlets. Darden Restaurant welcomed efforts by Brunei to produce big-size black tiger shrimp. According to them, the market for such a product is very positive and if Brunei can produce a consistent supply, Darden Restaurant would be delighted to be a long-term buyer.

Also discussed was the production of quality produce such as the need for a seafood processing plant to be Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified and the traceability system of product in place.

Brunei has already planned and implemented several projects towards the fulfilment of such international market requirement. Presenters duringthe conference comprised various experts from government agencies and private sectors including Mr Jim Anderson from the University of Rhode Island, US; Mr Panisuan Jamnarwej from Thai Frozen Food Association, Thailand; Mr Dean Akiyama from PT Central Proteinaprima, Indonesia; Mr AP Gomez-Lince from Promarisco, Ecuador; Mr Roger Bing from Darden Restaurant, US; Mr Peter Redmond from Wal-Mart Stores Inc, US; and Mr Brett Koonse from the US Food and Drug Administration. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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