Bandar Seri Begawan - Asean members hope to enhance regional cooperation enabling the regional bloc to produce quality food products for niche markets and create employment opportunities for its increasing population

Brunei also underscored the importance of cooperation in agriculture and food, that could assist the Sultanate in developing sustainable agriculture and achieve a level of self-sufficiency. Brunei will be hosting the 31st Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Meeting (AMAF), on Tuesday, where'agricultural ministers from Asean member countries plus 3 will meet.

The preparatory meeting (PREPSOM) by senior officials for the 31" AMAF meeting and the 9th Meeting of the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Plus 3 is being held at the Empire Hotel & Country Club.

At the PREPSOM opening ceremony yesterday, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Dato Seri Setia 1-1) Awang Yahya, in his opening remark said Asean cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry has three main objectives. First is to formulate and implement regional cooperation activities to enhance the international competitiveness of Asean's food, agriculture and forestry products. Second is to strengthen food security in the region and third is to come up with - joint positions in the various international forums dealing with food, agriculture and forestry.

The Minister noted areas of cooperation are in food security, food handling, crops, livestock, fisheries, agricultural training and extension, agricultural cooperatives, forestry and joint cooperation in products promotion.

Among the priorities being addressed are harmonisation of quality and standards, assurance of food safety and the standardisation of trade certification. Efforts at improving food products and agricultural commodities are in. accordance with member states, dialogue partners and are consistent with international standards.

He congratulated all the sectoral working groups, joint committees and boards as well as expert groups which have carried out their respective tasks.

The Minister added, "Brunei Darussalam places great importance on Asean cooperation and shall continue to play an active role in the implementation of various Asean projecth. In addition to the opportunities for developing, producing and promoting agricultural products, we also hope that 'this cooperation will assist our country in realising its 'vision to develop sustainable agriculture.

He said, while significant progress has been made with Asean cooperation, there is still much to be done: For example AMAF has identified seven priority areas, which include strengthening food security in the region however there are new challenges to 'be faced. Climate change and natural disasters cause negative impacts on various conditions affecting agricultural production systems such as the transboundary movement of pests and diseases in crops and animals.

To provide further impetus to the work of AMAF, our Asean plus 3 Leaders have underscored the importance of food security and bio-energy development during their recent Summit meeting in Thailand.

This resulted in a statement, which tasked AMAF "to develop a comprehensive strategy on sustainable and integrated food and biofuels production and consumption that will promote a better allocation of resources for this endeavour. Our leaders have also instructed AMAF to present a progress report to the Asean plus Three Summit in 2010

I have no doubt that your meeting will give full attention to the various issues before us. I am also confident that the meeting will keep in mind the objectives of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

There is indeed a sense of urgency in the carrying out the tasks ahead. The work in agriculture, fisheries and forestry is an indispensable building block for realising an Asean Economic Community that is globally competitive and attractive to investors.

Chairman of SOM 31st AMAF, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, and Primary Resources; Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar, said the Agenda this year has four main components.

Food security, climate change, the on-, going work regarding Asean Sectoral Activities such as promotion, quality and standards, accreditation, legal and regulatory framework and lastly, our work with our partners in the Asean + 3.

Our cooperation with China, Japan and Korea are important indeed to sustain our goals for agriculture, fisheries and forestry in Asean. Our relationship with the plus 3 partners has been mutually beneficial to all of us in many aspects and should therefore be further enhanced.

"As we embark on our Prep SOM-31st AMAF, may I ask your support and cooperation in moving our current work forward and in finding our new projects or initiatives that will bring concrete benefits to our society." -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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