Trade deal offers Brunei, Aussie business links

THE ASEAN free trade deal with Australia and New Zealand presents opportunities to Bruneian and Australian businesses, the top Australian envoy in Brunei yesterday said.

During a meeting of the Brunei-Australia Alumni Association, Australian High Commissioner Mark Sawers said Australia's trade commission based in Kuala Lumpur will be visiting Brunei soon to explore business opportunities.

"Some areas that could be discussed are infrastructure, education, agriculture and information communication technology (ICT) especially on e-governance," he said.

Another factor which should be considered was the signing of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which may present other opportunities, he said.

The trade agreement is expected to be in force from January 1 next year.

Australia and New Zealand are the region's seventh largest export market, with bilateral trade in 2008 valued at US$67.2 billion ($97 billion).

To facilitate business matching between Bruneian and Australian businesses, Sawers said the High Commission is ready to organise events for the business community to provide ready-made network of potential business contacts for Australia and Bruneian firms.

"We are hoping to find ways for the alumni to be useful to locals and Australians where there could be potential business delegations coming into the country. But it is currently too early to pinpoint when exactly," he told The Brunei Times.

He hoped the alumni association can provide a continuous flow of business networking and be the first port of call for Bruneian and Australian businessman.

"We are speaking regularly to the Brunei Economic Development Board but I think the issue now is that the market here is difficult and it's all about (finding) the correct partners," he said, adding that if they notice an interest towards investment in Australia, "we will be there to facilitate".

Dato Paduka Hj Idris Hj Abas, president of the association, said one of the best ways to promote business between the two countries is through trade missions. "A few business people who are focused on certain activities can be ... (matched) with local businessmen and both sides should explore each other's country," he said, adding that there are already a lot of Australian products being imported.

"Australia is also looking at Brunei as the heart of halal food especially because they have the technology, resources and market," Dato Paduka Hj Idris said.

The chief executive officer and principal architect of Arkitek Idris added that Brunei has tried to get professional inputs from experts in Australia on local projects.

Josie Abdullah, senior business development manager of AusTrade, said the association is a great way of networking and it isn't only for fresh graduates to meet.

"People living in Australia know the quality of life and services the country offers. One who is familiar can be the 'little ambassadors' of the country and help promote both sides," she said.

Josie added that recently, a few key Australian companies were awarded local tenders in consultation, agriculture, ICT and education.

The Brunei Times