THE
Department of Agriculture and Agrifood (DAA) yesterday announced the appointent
of a Canadian consultancy firm to establish the Food Development Centre (FDC).
The centre, one of the projects under the
Agrifood Development and Agriculture Biotechnology Programme under the National
Development Plan 2007-2012, will be constructed at the 500-hectare Brunei Agro
Technology Park (BATP) in Kg Tungku.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, Acting Director
Hjh Aidah Hj Mohd Hanifah said that Agriteam Canada has been appointed by the
department for its strong international reputation in the design, management
and implementation of agricultural and livestock projects.
She also attributed the selection to the
Canadian firm's extensive international experience in food quality and safety,
environmental, private sector and human resource developments.
"The DAA can learn and share valuable
ideas and information from Agriteam Canada in many aspects regarding the
development of the FDC particularly in areas of institutional strengthening and
capacity building," said the Acting Director following the signing
ceremony held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday.
She added, "We can benefit through their
leading international professionals in the designing, implementing, managing,
monitoring and evaluating the consultancy project."
The centre is designed to enhance the production
of quality and safe local processed food and processing factories capable and
recognised for export penetration, as well as to enhance the development and
expertise and technically skilled and qualified personnel in the field of food
science and technology.
In addition, the project is expected to
strengthen support services to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), technical
and technology transfer to the Agrifood industry as well as implement quality
assurance programmes and food safety, research and development and technical
services in a more comprehensive and systematic manner.
The agreement was signed between Hjh Aidah on
behalf of the DAA and the project manager of the Agriteam Canada Consulting
Ltd, Guy Innes.
A press statement issued by the department
yesterday stated that the production of agricultural commodities increased from
$171.75 million in 2006 to $228.43 million in 2010. The increase is attributed
to positive growth in the development of the agricultural and agrifood sector
in Brunei, buoyed by the progression from traditional agriculture methods to
modern and systematic agriculture practice utilising advanced technology.
The statement added that based on 2011
statistics, the agrifood industry had achieved $57.13 million in revenues,
which exceeds its target of $56.5 million.
The establishment of the FDC was the result of
several projects conducted and implemented by the DAA to achieve the agrifood
sector's expected target of contributing $1.87 billion to the economy by 2023,
the statement added.
"The establishment of the Centre is one
of the departmental strategies to centralise all activities related to research
and development, technical services and technology transfer to Local Agrifood
Industry under one roof."
The facility will be fully equipped with
laboratory buildings, sophisticated equipments and instrument which will meet
the criteria of international standard ISO 17025.
The statement added that the implementation of
the new system hopes to enhance the laboratories' analysing capabilities to
ensure the quality, safety and halal accreditation for local food products.
Present during the signing ceremony was the
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato
Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar and Canada Minister of
International Trade, Ed Fast.
Also present was Hjh Normah Suria Hayati Pehin
Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr.) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, the
Permanent Secretary of MIPR, and Mr Mackenzie Clugston, the High Commissioner
of Canada.
AL-HAADI ABU BAKAR
The Brunei Times
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