Brunei, China JV To Invest In Halal Fish Processing

Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim (C), Director Of The Fisheries, And Zheng Then
Xiong (2nd R), Representative From Raoping Jinhang Deep Sea Cage
Development Co Ltd, Lead The Release Of Tiger Grouper Fingerlings At
The Deep Sea Aquaculture Project Near The Pelong Rocks In Muara.

Bandar Seri Begawan – Biomarine Sdn Bhd, a joint venture (JV)
between Bruneian and Chinese companies, will establish a halal
fish-processing facility in the Sultanate once the newly-formed company
has settled in and operations are running smoothly, it was announced
yesterday.

The facility, along with other plans to introduce a fish hatchery
and nursery, cold storage mom and blast freezers, requires the
joint-venture to inject a further $6 million to its initial investment
of $1.45 million into the “fish cage culture project” located near the
Pelong Rocks offshore from Muara Town.

“Once the JV Company has fully established its deep-sea aquaculture
venture, a halal fish-processing plant will be established to process
fish that is available in Brunei and surrounding regions for export to
the Middle East and other Muslim countries,” a statement from BioMarine
issued yesterday said. The Chinese company that partly owns BioMarine
is Raoping Jin Hang Deep Sea Cage Development Co Ltd.

A coordinator for BioMarine, who asked not to be named, said that
among the reasons the Chinese company chose to invest in Brunei was the
Sultanate’s reputation and recognition as a halal hub.

“Brunei is one of the most trusted halal (producing countries) in
the region. This is one of the main reasons why the Chinese investors
came here,” he said.

He said it was difficult for Chinese halal products to penetrate the
Middle East market, and thus the Chinese investors hoped to capitalise
on Brunei’s strict halal control procedures and guidelines.

Other incentives included Brunei’s status as a political and
economically stable country with low crime and a multiracial
population, according to the statement. The Sultanate also has a good
communications network, low fuel costs and investment-friendly
conditions, it said.

An additional benefit is that BioMarine’s planned nursery and
hatchery is hoped to produce quality fish fries and fingerlings that
can be sold to local aquaculture Farmers so they would not have to
import them from neighbouring countries.

Fisheries Director Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim told The Brunei Times
yesterday that the Brunei government would assist BioMarine in
acquiring Brunei Halal certification, given that the company complies
with the Sultanate’s regulations when their processing plant becomes
operational.

Hjh Hasnah acknowledged it was in Brunei’s interest for BioMarine to
successfully penetrate these target markets as it would further
strengthen Brunei’s reputation in the global halal sector.– Courtesy of The Brunei Times