BRUNEI Darussalam opens a trade relation with Zamboanga del Sur recently. This was learned over the weekend when a 7-man trade and investment exploratory mission from Brunei Darussalam arrived in Pagadian City with Dr. Haji Amzah bin Haji Abdul Rahman as its head last April 9.

Haji Abdul Rahman, who can speak tagalog declared that his team is more interested in coconut, goat and halal dressed chicken and said he studied at the University of the Philippines.

Brunei Darussalam trade relations team was welcomed by provincial government and city government officials through a dinner at the Capitol upon their arrival. In spite of Governor Auring E. Cerilles’ absence (who was in Manila at the time), Provincial Administrator Pepito Degamo acted as host with Board Member Miguelito Ocapan, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Loy Cañales, Provincial Agriculturist Marilyn IS Bersales and Provincial Veterinarian Rino Soria.

For the city government, City Mayor Sammy S. Co waited almost an hour for the guests to arrive for he was tasked by Governor Cerilles to personally welcome them during the dinner program. Joining Mayor Co were City Councilors Arnulfo Garcia, Wilson Co, Bienvenido Culve and Eric Bersales.

PPDO Loy Cañales, briefed the foreign traders about the socio-economic profile of Zamboanga del Sur as well as its business and investment development.

DTI Director Atay for her part, facilitated the “business matching” among the foreign traders and local entrepreneurs like poultry magnate Roy Go, virgin coconut oil entrepreneur Carlito Nacalaban, Dimataling Mayor Haniel Baya, who  represented DiDiPiTa banana growers, First Lady of Mahayag Proserpina Fanilag for the rubber growers and interested entrepreneur Macapagal Pantaran.

During the business matching, Brunei trader Ak Jofree bin Pg. Haji Md. Daud asked poultry magnate Roy Go (based in Molave) if the latter can supply to him at least 500,000 to 1-million heads of dressed chicken a month.

Roy Go is the promising poultry entrepreneur in Zamboanga del Sur who is now supplying chicken meat in Pagadian, Ozamis and Cebu. But to date, his production is only 120,000 dressed chickens a month. However, he can grow as much as 250,000 broiler chickens monthly. Nevertheless, Mr. Go was interested to comply the requirements set by Brunei traders especially on meeting the International Quality Standards. 

These broiler chickens must be “halal certified”, emphasized Haji Daud to Mr. Go.  Halal certified food has something to do with the feeds given to poultry which is ideally grown organically, Daud explained.

On the other hand, Nurlina bt. Abdullah is interested in “buko” (young coconut) to be traded to Brunei. 

Zambosur entrepreneurs were thrilled to have trade relations with Brunei investors, but worried about shipment of these products since commercial and passenger ship en route Pagadian-Zamboanga City-Bongao-Sitangkai-Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu are no longer operating.

PPDO Cañales said that there must be a collaborating move among the local government officials of Zamboanga del Sur and entrepreneurs for a possible chartering of boat so that this trade relation with Brunei will be realized.

Last update : 23-04-2008 17:07

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