27 October 2016 – The Secretaries of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) held their respective bilateral meetings with Bruneian government ministers at the side-lines of the State Visit of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Brunei Darussalam on October 16 to 18.

MinDA Secretary Datu Abul Khayr D.Alonto met with Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng (Pehin Lim Jock Seng), Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, during an informal lunch meeting at Istana Edinburgh on October 16. Topics discussed by the two officials included the historical affinity between the Philippines and Brunei; cooperation in the halal industry and eco-tourism; the peace process in Mindanao; and BIMP-EAGA initiatives.

On October 17, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez met with Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong (Pehin Abu Bakar), Minister of Home Affairs and Chairperson of the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) at Istana Edinburgh.

Among the items discussed by the two officials included cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei in the energy sector and in the area of halal industry; opportunities in the Philippines’ IT and BPO industries which Brunei could explore; and the economic contribution of the 23,000-strong overseas Filipinos in Brunei.

The following day, Secretary Lopez also had the opportunity to meet with officials from Jollibee Brunei Darussalam in the newly opened Jollibee outlet and drive thru in Kampung Kilanas. During said meeting, Jollibee officials briefed Secretary Lopez on Jollibee’s operations in Brunei. They also exchanged views on how to further enhance Jollibee’s market share and strengthen the Jollibee brand in Brunei. END