It was learnt that a company from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will be conducting an oyster culture trial in Brunei prior to embarking on production on a commercial scale.

Present to witness the signing was Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources and Mr Min Yongnian, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam.

Signing on behalf of His Majesty's Government was Dyg Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim, Director of Fisheries while the People's Republic of China was represented by Mr Wang Qiang, Deputy Director General of the Veterinary Medicine, Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture Bureau.

"With the MoU, we hope to start with oyster culture, and we have already identified one of the areas that is suitable for oyster culture, said Dyg Hjh Hasnah in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday. "But before that, we need to secure the place and also find people who are interested in oyster culture. We have to promote oyster culture."

When asked if Brunei's water suitable for oyster culture, Dyg Hjh Hasnah said, "We have brought scientists from China to help to identify the site. The man who is involved in the business also came to Brunei to look at the site. According to them, Brunei water is suitable for oyster culture."

The Director of Fisheries has also travelled to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China to look at the success of the oyster culture project in China.

She also revealed that the project might start as early as this year, provided the level of interest shown by the local private sector towards the new oyster culture business is sufficient.

"Already there are people interested in the oyster culture, and the private sectors from both sides will have to discuss this," said Dyg Hjh Hasnah. "Therefore, it's now up to the private sectors from both countries to sign an agreement for the joint venture. The (Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources) will support the activity because it is good for the country. There are many activities we can establish, especially downstream processing, as oysters are a very versatile product.
"We hope that the project will develop and, if successful, will generate income as well as create employment."

On other areas of cooperation, Dyg Hjh Hasnah said, "We will also forge cooperation in various areas of research and development in science and technology, as well as in increasing human resources capabilities through training in fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing and feeding."

Mr Wang Qiang, in a separate interview with the Bulletin, said, "The MoU signed today has a huge area of cooperation between both countries. We will start from oyster culture."
In the first step, he revealed "We would do test or trial on oyster culture in Brunei waters and then, based on the information gathered, we can move on to the next plan."

In Guangxi, it takes "two to three years (before) we can harvest the oysters but in Brunei, we still don't know yet. We will have to do culture trial first".

"We want to start the culture trial as soon as possible. After today's signing, we will promote the oyster culture in Brunei to the Chinese investors in order for them to come to Brunei. And we also would like to invite Brunei's investors to come to China to invest."

On the major diversification and self-sufficiency projects, Mr Wang said, "We are happy to also provide any assistance within the MoU areas."

Oyster is a type of seafood which has high market value in the global market. By 2003, the global oyster production had expanded to 4.38 million tonnes more than any other species of fish, mollusks and crustaceans. China is the world's leading producer of oysters with more than 80 per cent of the global production. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin