Sites for 'industry clusters' proposed

SEVEN future "industry clusters" have been identified by a team of Australian consultants carrying out an on-going study to make the best use of limited land for commercial and industrial development, with the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) seen best suited to house much of this economic activity.

The consultants, SGS Economics and Planning, have already eyed specific areas, mainly the Brunei-Muara and Belait districts, where the industries petrochemicals and energy; transport, communications and logistics; advanced business and financial services; creative industries; tourism; education; and biodiversity, food and pharmaceuticals should be focused.

The petrochemicals and energy industries cluster will be mainly sited at existing locations in Belait District along with Pulau Muara Besar.

Meanwhile, transport, communications and logistics should be focused in areas such as Serasa, Meragang and Lambak Kanan "East".

The downtown commercial district in the capital, the Knowledge Hub and iCentre in Anggerek were seen as suitable locations for the advanced business and financial services, along with areas in Jerudong, Beribi and Lambak Kanan "West". Some of those areas were also eyed conducive for the placement of creative industries.

Where Brunei's universities were currently located in Jerudong and the downtown capital were the areas the consultants recommended for the education industry.

The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources' planned 500-hectare Agro-Technology Park (ATP) in Tungku, along with Lambak Kanan "East" was where the biodiversity, food and pharmaceuticals industries should be focused.

The suggested locations of these "industry clusters" were based on various assessments such as existing land use, the industries' requirements of specific infrastructure and access to key amenities.

Speaking to The Brunei Times yesterday, SGS Director Sasha Lennon said that even though the consultants supported the dispersal of economic activity across Brunei, they had to balance that with "economic reality".

"Brunei has just over 400,000 people. If we spread that (workforce) too thinly, then that will just end up to be counter-productive. So there is greater merit in concentrating the economic activity in BSB," he said.

The human workforce was also anticipated to increase by roughly a quarter of its current population by the time the Sultanate realises the National Vision 2035.

"Employment in Brunei is forecast to increase by approximately 108,000 workers between now and 2035," Lennon said during a forum held yesterday to gather more input from stakeholders.

The consultants estimated that based on current market demands, 515,000 square metres of commercial floorspace and 1,300 hectares of industrial site area will be required for these "industry clusters" by 2035.

The forum was held at the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) in Gadong. The local think-tank appointed the Australian consultants in March to formulate a land use optimisation plan for future commercial and industrial development.

The final report is expected to be completed by April next year.

Lennon said that they were currently in the second of the three-phase project, or "about 50 per cent done".

The forum saw presentations from various government bodies on their main priorities and interests for current and future development.

"We are trying to help, as much as possible, (provide) information to our consultants, (for them) to understand and to be able to work out using their expertise, their experience and be able to help Brunei move towards what's important for (its) development, in this case, the land use must be really optimised," said CSPS Executive Director Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman.

"And at the same time, we have to move towards our direction to achieve our nation's Wawasan 2035 (Vision 2035)... soon, if possible."

The Brunei Times