Agro-Tech Park infrastructure up by 2012
By Melvin Jong and Goh De No published 5 months ago
Original Article Source: Brunei fm
Filed Under: Trade & Investment
The infrastructure of the first phase of the Agro Technology Park at the Tungku area will be completed in 2012 and will create 2,000 jobs for technical and skilled workers, the deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) said.
Pg Hjh Mariana PDNLDR Pg Hj Abd Momin during her speech at the opening ceremony of the Second Halal Small to Medium Enterprise Workshop’ held at the ministry on Wednesday said that upon completion, the Agro-Tech Park will provide facilities for manufacturing, research and development and logistics like transportation and storage.
The park is estimated to create 8,200 jobs once completed, depending on the scope of the park and the finished infrastructure, which will be financed with $200 million from the government.
“The Halal industry, which is on the rise worldwide, is worth US$560 billion ($810 billion) per year, catered to an Islamic population of two billion,” Pg Hjh Mariana said.
Pg Hjh Mariana said the MIPR has taken strategic steps to press Brunei’s potential as an exporter of Halal goods.
“Among other initiatives include the development of the Brunei Halal Brand and the Halal Science Centre which are slated to be providing a platform for small to medium enterprises in the country. In the future, SMEs can look towards exportation of Halal goods,” she said.
Pg Hjh Mariana also hoped that MIPR’s efforts will attract foreign investors into the country and for them to collaborate and build on the Halal export and service industry.
The deputy permanent secretary also noted that MIPR has a new “Export Financing Scheme” where individuals can borrow up to $500,000 in hopes of easing the way of local companies who wish to export.
“MIPR along with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Health have also succeeded in the launching of the Halal Pharmaceutical Guidelines recently which further increases the business opportunities in the Halal industry locally and internationally,” she said. – Brunei Times