PH Embassy in Brunei Promotes Zambo Ecozone in Visit to Labuan Halal Hub
Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) Pete Raymond V. Delfin (3rd from left) shares his views on Halal industry development and Halal logistics during the meeting with Labuan Halal Hub (LHH) Chief Executive Officer YBrs. Pn. Manisah Hj Mahmud. (Brunei PE photo)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 30 October 2018 – Prospects for halal development in the Philippines especially at the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) was promoted during the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam’s to Labuan Halal Hub (LHH) on 04 October 2018.
Chargé d’Affaires Pete Raymond V. Delfin participated in the working, upon the invitation of the International Halal Trade Hub and Services Brunei (IHTHS).
The visit was jointly organized by IHTHS and the Halal Industry Development Division of the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI-HIDD) in collaboration with the Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BD-BEBC).
During the meeting with LHH officials, Chargé d’Affaires Delfin underscored the need to develop and modernize the traditional Palawan–Zamboanga–Labuan–Brunei trade corridor to further stimulate the economic activity in this area of BIMP-EAGA.
The great potential of Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone (ZAMBOECOZONE) as a food processing and manufacturing center and offering many investment opportunities for businesses in EAGA Focus Areas was also emphasized.
Chargé d’Affaires Delfin also had the opportunity to meet with Labuan BEBC Chair Azhar Othman, where recent BIMP-EAGA economic initiatives involving Labuan’s counterparts in Palawan, Mindanao, Kalimantan and Sulawesi were discussed.
Mr. Othman mentioned that Philippine officials in Palawan are seriously considering two important initiatives: the development of southern Palawan as a showcase for halal tourism, the establishment of a trade route connecting Palawan, Sabah and Sulawesi.
Upon conclusion of the visit, MEMI Acting Senior Special Duties Officer and HIDD Head Subandi bin Haji Kamis enjoined the attending Brunei government representatives to come up with their respective assessments that will be reported to MEMI. He also expressed his appreciation to Chargé d’Affaires Delfin for participating in the visit.
The highlights of the visit to LHH included a meeting with LHH Chief Executive Officer YBrs. Pn. Manisah Hj Mahmud, signing of the Strategic Alliances Agreement (SAA) between IHTHS and LHH, and the visit to the Asian Supply Base, a former offshore supply base for oil and gas exploration and production that is now being opened as a Halal industry logistics facility.
In addition to MEMI, IHTHS and BD-BEBC, other participants in the said working visit included representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), Ministry of Health (MoH), Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) and the Philippine and Indonesian Embassies in Brunei. END
For more information, visit www.bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippine-embassybrunei.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrunei/
CDA Delfin (left) discusses with Labuan BEBC Chair Azhar Othman recent BIMP-EAGA economic initiatives involving Labuan’s counterparts in Palawan, Mindanao, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. (Brunei PE photo)
CDA Delfin (center, in Barong Tagalog) poses for a group photo with participants from Brunei during the visit to the Asian Supply Base Sdn. Bhd. (Brunei PE photo)
CDA Delfin (in Barong Tagalog) listens to a briefing by LHH Chief Executive Officer YBrs. Pn. Manisah Hj Mahmud (in gesture) during the visit to the Asian Supply Base Sdn. Bhd. (Brunei PE photo)
The port area of the Asian Supply Base Sdn. Bhd., one of the sections of the economic zone visited by the participants. (Brunei PE photo)