Japanese Co Looks To Build Plant
In Brunei
Bandar Seri
Begawan – PHARMEX Japan – a Japanese company specialising in
the export of Japanese generic drugs – is looking to build a
pharmaceutical packaging plant in Brunei Darussalam.
If successful in obtaining the
halal certification from the certifying authorities of Brunei for
their processing plant and products, the company hopes to be able to
qualify to package the medicines under the Brunei Halal brand, with
Brunei Darussalam as the base of medicine supply to Muslim consumers
around the world, a BEDB press release said.
The signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding in order to underscore the commitment of the parties
towards realising the successful implementation of Pharmex’s
proposal was yesterday held in Tokyo during the Brunei Investment
Seminar.
The seminar is organised by the
Brunei Economic Development Board, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade, Asean-Japan Centre with strong support of the Japan
Brunei Friendship Association, a reciprocal Brunei Japan Friendship
Association partner based in Tokyo.
The MOU was signed by Deputy
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) Dato Paduka Haji
Hamdillah bin Haji Abd Wahab, Mr Osamu Sato representing Pharmex
Japan, and Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) Acting Chairman
Dato Paduka Timothy Ong.
The Brunei Investment Seminar in
Tokyo is a BEDB initiative to promote new investment opportunities
in Brunei Darussalam to foreign investors. The Brunei government,
through the MIPR and the BEDB, is focusing on petrochemicals like
methanol, aquaculture and nature-based industries and Islamic
business such as the branding of halal products.
The BEDB is also highlighting
opportunities in infrastructure development such as export facility
required by the methanol plant.
Under the MOU, the Ministry of
Industry and Primary Resources and the Brunei Economic Development
Board, in line with their respective roles, will facilitate and
support Pharmex in the implementation of the proposal by
facilitating discussions with relevant government agencies and
potential local Brunei business partners.
Brunei Darussalam aims to play a
significant role in the global Halal industry, currently estimated
at more than US$500 billion.
The Ministry of Industry and
Primary Resources introduced Brunei’s own Halal Brand in 2007 with
the cooperation of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Ministry of
Religious Affairs and Ministry of Health.
In its efforts to promote the
brand, the ministry participated in the First Halal World Expo 2007
in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and used the opportunity to
promote the brand, the proposed Agro Technology Park, and the
International Halal Expo 2008 to be held in Brunei and other
investment opportunities in the country. — Courtesy of Borneo
Bulletin
