Brunei-NZ halal food sector ties proposed
January 21, 2008 - 8:31am —
BRUNEI should find a strategic partner in New Zealand's farm sector for its push to get a bigger share of the global halal food market, a Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) senior lecturer said yesterday.
Brunei, which entered the global halal market with the launch of its own halal brand last year, should now look into strategic alliances with countries which have an advanced and mature agriculture sector such as New Zealand, senior lecturer Dr Saad Al-Harran said.
Entering the halal industry requires a sound foundation in terms of skill and expertise in the field of strategic marketing and handling of produce such as meat, he said in a presentation at the UBD International Business and Management Conference. It is important for Brunei to forge alliances with universities and vocational training institutes in New Zealand, he added.
"The Bruneian economy will grow and new business opportunities (can) emerge from farming and agriculture in the country... by establishing agribusiness and joint ventures with new business partners," the senior lecturer said, citing that developing these sectors will ease the nation's dependence on oil and gas.
However, to successfully penetrate and remain a global player in the halal market, Dr Saad said that the Brunei Government must invest in skill manpower training.
The art of staying in the global market requires that players be innovative, competitive and equipped with competent manpower.
New Zealand, which has successfully captured a combined of 18.1 per cent of the halal meat (beef and sheep) market, would be the perfect candidate for such strategic alliances, he noted. Forging such an alliance can also help ease the soaring cost of capital and cost of research and development.
Advances in farming, food processing and halal meat productions have put New Zealand on the global map and they are keen to share their experience and assist small nations such as Brunei Darussalam, the UBD lecturer said.
"The suggestions made need to be critically examined by the policy makers of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, practitioners, and successful business leaders."
It would be recalled that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam officially launched the Brunei Halal Brand in August last year during the International Halal Expo 2007.
The Brunei Times. Thursday, January 10, 2008.
Brunei, which entered the global halal market with the launch of its own halal brand last year, should now look into strategic alliances with countries which have an advanced and mature agriculture sector such as New Zealand, senior lecturer Dr Saad Al-Harran said.
Entering the halal industry requires a sound foundation in terms of skill and expertise in the field of strategic marketing and handling of produce such as meat, he said in a presentation at the UBD International Business and Management Conference. It is important for Brunei to forge alliances with universities and vocational training institutes in New Zealand, he added.
"The Bruneian economy will grow and new business opportunities (can) emerge from farming and agriculture in the country... by establishing agribusiness and joint ventures with new business partners," the senior lecturer said, citing that developing these sectors will ease the nation's dependence on oil and gas.
However, to successfully penetrate and remain a global player in the halal market, Dr Saad said that the Brunei Government must invest in skill manpower training.
The art of staying in the global market requires that players be innovative, competitive and equipped with competent manpower.
New Zealand, which has successfully captured a combined of 18.1 per cent of the halal meat (beef and sheep) market, would be the perfect candidate for such strategic alliances, he noted. Forging such an alliance can also help ease the soaring cost of capital and cost of research and development.
Advances in farming, food processing and halal meat productions have put New Zealand on the global map and they are keen to share their experience and assist small nations such as Brunei Darussalam, the UBD lecturer said.
"The suggestions made need to be critically examined by the policy makers of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, practitioners, and successful business leaders."
It would be recalled that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam officially launched the Brunei Halal Brand in August last year during the International Halal Expo 2007.
The Brunei Times. Thursday, January 10, 2008.