Richard Drautz (C), Germany's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, speaking with Brunei's Deputy Minister of industry and Primary Resources Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab (R) on Brunei-Baden Wurttemberg relations. Picture: BT/Rudol f Portillo

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam may become the country of focus for the popular CMT Stuttgart to be held in Germany in 2011. CMT is the biggest annual tourism trade show which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

The invitation for Brunei to participate came yesterday from Richard Drautz, the Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, and Dieter Hillebrand, the Deputy Minister of-Labour and Social Affairs from Federal Republic of Germany, who paid a courtesy call on Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah bin Hj Abd Wahab, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources.

In an interview after the courtesy call, Richard Drautz said, "CMT is the biggest tourism trade show held annually and we invited Brunei and the Deputy Minister of MIPR, Dato Paduka Hamdillah in the year 2010.

"Since the focus for next year (2010) is golfing tourism and Brunei is famous for its golfing destination. However, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah couldn't make it next year due to other obligations."

Drautz who is also in charge of tourism in Germany said, "The trade show is a very huge event. Every year, a country is chosen as the country of focus. We have proposed that in the year 2011, Brunei Darussalam will be the special country of focus."

He added, "We were also mentioned health tourism, especially in spa and rehabilitation. The state of Baden Wurttemberg is very popular for health tourism."
In addition, he said, "There was also another point mentioned (which) is the bio-energy and reusable energy like solar energy projects".

On medical cooperation, Dieter Hillebrand said, "We are looking for cooperation in providing medical equipment to the Government of Brunei Darussalam where Baden-Wurttemberg has 450 different companies who can offer various sophisticated and high quality products to Brunei Darussalam.

"Tomorrow, we will be visiting RIPAS Hospital and we were told that the hospital is intending to do some renovation, upgrading and extension. Our experts and specialists will have a look tomorrow to see what we can offer."

To build further cooperation between the local private sector and German companies, a business matching session was held yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources between local businesses and 25 delegates from leading medical companies from Baden Wurttemberg.

On the session, Hillebrand said, "We have in the delegation manufacturers of various renowned sophisticated medical and healthcare equipment. We also have fast development of technologies in the medical field and we will provide thorough training for the equipment."

He added, "We want to offer the services to Brunei Darussalam because we consider the country a highly developed nation with the capabilities of becoming the platform to 'radiate' to the other countries in the region."

Meanwhile, Thomas Bruns, the German Ambassador, said, "This is a follow-up visit after the Deputy Minister of Health's visit to Germany.

"This visit by the German delegation is to see whether there is a possibility of cooperation and business contracts. German companies have vast medical expertise and they are here to see the opportunities for cooperation."  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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