PH Embassy in Brunei Receives BEBC Palawan Chair
Vice Consul Jaybee B. Arguillas (center) and Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Palawan Chair Engr. Datu Benjamin Hamid (3rd from left) pose for a group photo following their meeting at the Embassy. (Brunei PE photo)
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 08 May 2019 – Philippine Embassy in Brunei received Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Business Council (BEBC) Palawan Chair Engr. Datu Benjamin Hamid in a courtesy call held at the Embassy on 02 May 2019.
Datu Hamid was accompanied by Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) Deputy Secretary General Hj Amir Ibrahim.
During the meeting, Datu Hamid informed the Embassy that various companies in Palawan, through BEBC Palawan, are keen on identifying potential trade and investment opportunities in Brunei, particularly in halal production and services. They are exploring to utilize Labuan as one of the routes for the transshipment of their products within the BIMP-EAGA region.
Datu Hamid also mentioned the viability of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone (ZamboEcoZone) as a processing and manufacturing center, which they envision to be part of the corridor they wish to develop.
Prior to their visit to Brunei, Datu Hamid and his group came from Labuan to attend a briefing by the Labuan Halal Hub (LHH).
Vice Consul Jaybee Arguillas welcomed Datu Hamid’s statements and remarked that the Embassy fully supports initiatives by Philippine companies, particularly those from Mindanao and Palawan, in facilitating trade and investments with fellow BIMP-EAGA Member-Countries.
She informed Datu Hamid that the Philippines and Brunei has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Halal Industry and Halal Export Development and Promotion and that this MOU intends to further promote Halal industry cooperation between the two countries.
Vice Consul Arguillas also informed Datu Hamid that they may wish to participate in the Brunei Halal Showcase (BruHAS) to be held in Bandar Seri Begawan in August of this year as well as the 2nd Philippine National Halal Conference to be held sometime in June or July, for them to be able to establish networks with relevant public and private sector stakeholders in both the Philippines and Brunei.
Following the meeting, Datu Hamid and his group returned to Labuan for the continuation of their briefing. END
Vice Consul Jaybee B. Arguillas (right) exchanges views with BEBC Palawan Chair Engr. Datu Benjamin Hamid (leftmost) during the meeting. (Brunei PE photo)
For more information, visit www.bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph, www.philippine-embassybrunei.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrunei/.