Deputy Sultan Continues Visit To MIPR
By Zaim Zaini & Sonia K

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan consented to continue his working visit to the departments and project sites under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources yesterday.

The Deputy Sultan's visit to a number of institutions under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources was to have a closer look at the future plans and projects as well as economic activities that are participated by the institutions towards the objective of diversifying the economy.

His Royal Highness made his first stop at the Brunei Industrial Development Authority (BINA). Upon arrival at BINA, His Royal Highness was greeted by Pehin Dato Dr Awang Hi Ahmad bin Hj Jumat, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources; Dato Seri Paduka Haji Eussoff Agaki bin Haji Ismail, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah bin Hj Abd Wahab, Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources; Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar bin Pengiran Seri Indera Pengiran Haji Ismail, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office; Dato Paduka l-Ij Mohd Hamid bin Hj Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and Pg Sharifuddin bin Pg Hj Matali, Acting Director of BINA.

In his welcoming remark, the Acting Director of BINA said the role of BINA is to facilitate industrial growth and new corporations as well as to facilitate industrial development for existing corporations to develop, to be competitive and to be able to export.

He added that in line with its role to develop industry, the department has approved as many as 255 projects in 10 industrial sites throughout the nation. From the approved projects, 124 projects are in operation, 27 projects are not operational under certain circumstances while 104 projects has been revoked. Among the reasons that the projects were retracted was they are not viable so investors have pulled off.

The development complex has shown satisfactory progress. Beribi Industrial Complex in the Brunei-Muara District comprises 56 units while for Serambangun Industrial Complex in the Tutong District, out of the 32 units only 21 have been rented and 11 are still on offer. Meanwhile, for the Belait Town Industrial Complex, out of the 84 units, 77 have been rented and seven are still on offer.

In terms of economic diversification activities, sectors that are located in industrial areas are food making, construction materials manufacturing, fabric manufacturing, electronic and electrical manufacturing, engineering and machine of wood based products, chemicals, printing, services and souvenir and other product manufacturing.

In the effort to attract foreign investors, 13 countries and associations have invested in the manufacturing and services sector with a sum of B$244 million till the end of the year 2005.

Moving to the corporation sectors, the total number of corporation memberships that have registered from the year 1976 to 2006 has reached 18,745 and 162 corporations are registered with BINA. The investment collected has reached over B$23 million. The corporation activities comprise consumer sector, agriculture, school, transport and fisheries. The total revenue at the end of 2005 reached B$27 million.

At the end of the session, His Royal Highness expressed concerns on the problems and steps taken to develop the involvement of locals in the manufacturing and service industry. HRH was briefed on the steps taken to handle the matter.

His Royal Highness then consented to pay a visit to Sunlit Advertising Sdn Bhd at Beribi Industrial Site. Upon his arrival, HRH was greeted by the managing directors of the company, Dato Paduka Haji Danial bin Hj Hanafiah and Awang Jackson Ting.

The Deputy Sultan their proceeded to visit the Veterinary Laboratory Services Unit, Agriculture Department at Mukim Kilanas. Then HRH concluded his morning session with visits to the Entrepreneurial Development Centre and Accreditation and Standards Centre at Kg Sinaut, Tutong where HRH consented to tour an exhibition on the outcome of efforts by local enterprises at the centre and view the Royal Palm tree that was planted by HRH during his visit there in 1983.

In the afternoon, His Royal Highness made a visit to the Aquaculture Development Centre in Meragang where HRH toured an exhibition on the efforts of fisheries department and had a closer look at the fish breeding pool and `ostrich' shrimp and later concluded his visits to Syarikat Seiwa Corporation Sdn Bhd at Meragang and Semaun Seafood Company Sdn Bhd in Serasa. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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