Exchange of documents: MIPR Minister (C) witnessing the exchange of MoUs between Dr Da-Yung Wang (L), President of Taiwan's MingDao University, and Aswad Aroma Plantation's Operation Director, Pg Fakhruddeen (R). Picture: BT/Melvin Jong
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A LOCAL firm and a university from Taiwan has agreed to work together in developing Agarwood (gaharu) plantations using biotechnology in attempts to help diversify Brunei's economy.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Aswad Aroma Plantation and MingDao University of Taiwan was held yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR).
Pg Fakhruddeen Pg Anak Abd Rahman, operation director of Aswad Aroma Plantation, said that under the MoU, MingDao University will introduce the latest technology and research in tissue culture of the plants to Brunei.
The new technology, he added, would allow them to produce up to 900,000 individual plants from just one seedling.
"The gaharu trees are an endangered species so it is illegal to chop them but we are trying to legalise it," said Pg Fakhruddeen, adding that these gaharu trees will then be exported to other countries in the form of wood chips and oil.
"These Agarwood is in great demand by countries such as Taiwan and the Arab countries, due to its importance as an ingredient in making perfumes," he said.
Signing the MoU on behalf of Aswad Aroma Plantation was Pg Fakhruddeen while representing MingDao University was its President, Dr Da-Yung Wang.
Present to witness the signing was MIPR Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.
According to Muhd Safwan Abdullah Bibi, acting silviculturist from the Forestry Department, the gaharu tree, native to the forests of Southeast Asia, can be sold at prices ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 per kilo depending on its quality and grade.
He said that the MoU was one of the department's initiatives in helping to diversify and strengthen the Sultanate's economy through the promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) and added that the trend of these PPPs is now increasing. "Local sawmills are now investing in wood-based downstream industries for export purposes in addition to lowering the dependency of importation," he said.
There are also plans by Aswad Aroma Plantation and MingDao University to collaborate with Universiti Brunei Darussalam for future research and development in the Sultanate's gaharu industry.
Also present at the event was MIPR Deputy Minister Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab as well as the director of forestry. (MJH1)
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Aswad Aroma Plantation and MingDao University of Taiwan was held yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR).
Pg Fakhruddeen Pg Anak Abd Rahman, operation director of Aswad Aroma Plantation, said that under the MoU, MingDao University will introduce the latest technology and research in tissue culture of the plants to Brunei.
The new technology, he added, would allow them to produce up to 900,000 individual plants from just one seedling.
"The gaharu trees are an endangered species so it is illegal to chop them but we are trying to legalise it," said Pg Fakhruddeen, adding that these gaharu trees will then be exported to other countries in the form of wood chips and oil.
"These Agarwood is in great demand by countries such as Taiwan and the Arab countries, due to its importance as an ingredient in making perfumes," he said.
Signing the MoU on behalf of Aswad Aroma Plantation was Pg Fakhruddeen while representing MingDao University was its President, Dr Da-Yung Wang.
Present to witness the signing was MIPR Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.
According to Muhd Safwan Abdullah Bibi, acting silviculturist from the Forestry Department, the gaharu tree, native to the forests of Southeast Asia, can be sold at prices ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 per kilo depending on its quality and grade.
He said that the MoU was one of the department's initiatives in helping to diversify and strengthen the Sultanate's economy through the promotion of public-private partnership (PPP) and added that the trend of these PPPs is now increasing. "Local sawmills are now investing in wood-based downstream industries for export purposes in addition to lowering the dependency of importation," he said.
There are also plans by Aswad Aroma Plantation and MingDao University to collaborate with Universiti Brunei Darussalam for future research and development in the Sultanate's gaharu industry.
Also present at the event was MIPR Deputy Minister Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab as well as the director of forestry. (MJH1)
