THE opening ceremony for the ‘Food Value
Chain Seminar’, part of the Asean-Japan Partnership Programme was held
at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of
Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)
yesterday.
The main objective of the seminar is to
provide knowledge and exchange experiences between the Japanese experts
and seminar participants, such as students from the local universities
and educational institutions; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
and officers from the government and private section as well as other
stakeholders.
Officiated by Japanese Ambassador to Brunei
Darussalam, Noriko Iki, the ceremony was attended by Wardi bin Haji
Mohammad Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the Ministry of
Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT); Chair Professor Dr David Koh,
Assistant Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of UBD; and Masaki
Maruyama, Counselor Deputy Director-General, Food Industry Affairs
Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan.
The ceremony began with a welcoming remark
delivered by Dr Abby Tan Chee Hong, Dean of the Faculty of Science of
UBD, followed by Masaki Maruyama.
A mini exhibition of local food products
from representatives of village consultative council, called ‘One
Village, One Product’, was featured at the ceremony.
The seminar – which runs from April 10 to
12 – was jointly organised by the Agriculture and Agrifood Department of
MPRT, UBD and the Government of Japan through the Asean Secretariat.
More at Borneo Bulletin Online
