$3.9m Inland Container Depot for Kuala Lurah

A $3.9 MILLION Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kuala Lurah is expected to be completed by January next year which will further help to facilitate trade between Brunei and its neighbouring countries as well as cut down on transport costs for both importers and exporters of goods.

The container depot also aims to manage and develop warehouse and other related activities as well as create a system which will help the authority control vehicles at the border.

The 3.5 acre site represents one of the projects under the National Development Plan, where construction began in the first quarter of 2009 and is expected to be completed in January 30, 2010. In a statement, its progress is about 20 per cent complete.

The facilities will include three open spaces to store cargo with an area of 3,161 square feet each, a loading bay with a mechanical dock leveler, a place to store refrigerated containers, a ramp for a forklift, a guardhouse as well as a parking area.

Recently, the Muara Inland Container Depot project was completed and was launched by the Minister of Communications on June 10. The next project under construction is the Inland Container Depot in Sungai Tujuh, Belait.

Costing about $3.8 million, the Sungai Tujuh Inland Container Depot is expected to see the Public Works Department handing over the site to a contractor by September 9 this year.

In a working paper produced by the Ports Department, the potential scope of activities for the container depot will include the unloading and loading of containers or bulk cargo to and from trucks, an inventory documentation as well as containing an information technology system.

The construction of such a site will also benefit SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in managing and sourcing inventory as well as enabling import direct from other countries. It is also hoped to create jobs and enable faster delivery.

The working paper also states that the concept of an inland container depot aims to create efficient customs procedures, increase flexibility, reach customers quickly, reduce storage costs and reduce capital investment.

Leading the foundation stone laying ceremony as guest of honour yesterday was the Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong.

Present at the ceremony were Hj Alaihuddin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Hj Mohd Taha, the permanent secretary along with Hj Mahmud Hj Mohd Daud, the deputy permanent secretary as well as the director of Ports, Ang Kian Guan.

Also present to witness the event was Hj Bakar Mansur, member of the Legislative Council, Hj Tahir Hj Tarip, Penghulu Mukim Pengkalan Batu and senior officials from various government agencies including Department of Economic and Planning, Royal Brunei Police Force, Public Works Department, Immigration Department and Royal Customs and Excise Department. The Brunei Times