James Kon

Brunei’s very own muskmelon will make its way to the huge market of the People’s Republic of China following the signing of Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism on Phytosanitary Requirements for the export of fresh melon from Brunei Darussalam to China at Xinhui Jinjiang Hotel, Beijing, People’s Republic of China on Monday.

Signing on behalf of the government of Brunei Darussalam was Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, while the government of the People’s Republic of China was represented by Vice Minister of General Administration of China Customs (GACC) of China Dr Zhang Jiwen.

Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the People’s Republic of China Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Abdu’r Rahmani bin Dato Paduka Haji Basir and officers from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and Ministry of Finance and Economy were also present.

The Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism is in China for a working visit from December 16 until today.

A bilateral meeting was also held to discuss obtaining protocol to export products such as fruits and meats as well as aquaculture fisheries from Brunei Darussalam to be approved to export to China.With the approval and acceptance of China for Brunei to export its products, this will provide a positive and significant impact to the fruits industry such as muskmelon, poultry and aquaculture industries in Brunei to penetrate into the market of China, which will contribute to the increase production in agriculture, livestock and fisheries and will boost the gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

This will also have a direct impact on local entrepreneurs operating in the industry, where the production of muskmelons from Gropoint Sdn Bhd is expected to increase from 600 tonnes per annum to 1,200 tonnes per annum, while the export of meat products from PDS Sdn Bhd company is estimated at 1,300 tonnes per annum and is expected to increase by next year, while aquaculture products from aquaculture companies are also expected to increase from 16,000 to 20,000 metric tonnes per annum.

The Brunei delegation also visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) in Beijing yesterday, where the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism held a bilateral meeting with Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China Yu Xinrong.

Among the matters discussed were the potential of cooperation in various fields between Brunei and China including technology for hybrid paddy plantation and high technology in other plantation industry.

The Brunei delegation also visited Chunbo, J.D.com, National Experiment Station for Precision Agriculture and On Site Display of Intelligent Equipment Laboratories, Futong China Agricultural University, Jingshen Seafood Market and Wecook to take a closer look at agriculture technology development.