Brunei, Japan need to explore more to broaden collaboration

The  Education Minister made this remark at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Asean Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) Conference held at The Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong.

Some 200 participants from Asean member countries and Japan-linked organisations are attending the three-day conference to discuss ways to boost Asean-Japan cooperation.

The Asia Japan Alumni International (ASJA)-ASCOJA symposium on tapping into the Halal market in Asean and Japan was also held during the afternoon session of the conference yesterday.

Through the symposium, Japan and other Asean member countries can learn from Brunei Darussalam’s perspective and experience in developing the industry, the minister said. “The Halal industry is now a global phenomenon and has broadened into our everyday lifestyle such as food products, cosmetics and there is even Halal tourism and the industry has widely penetrated non-Muslim consumers as well,” noted the minister, while expressing his hope that the conference will provide a good platform to discuss potential ways for Asean and Japan to contribute to the development of the Halal industry.

The minister said that there are many more areas of collaboration that can be ventured into by Asean and Japan apart from the Halal industry and highlighted Japan’s strong presence in Asean. “Asean and Japan continuously seek a stronger and closer partnership and this conference is one way of strengthening this close cooperation,” he added.

On Brunei-Japan friendship, the minister said the years-old stable and fruitful relationship both countries share is evident from increasing bilateral trade, two-way investments and the number of tourists and student exchanges at various levels including higher education.

This year’s ASCOJA Conference, hosted by the Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA), in association with the Brunei’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam, is themed ‘Enriching Asean-Japan Relations through Culture, Education and Economy’. The theme is chosen in line with the 50th anniversary of Asean’s establishment and also to mark the 40th year of the establishment of ASCOJA.

The main event of the conference will be the panel discussion by each ASCOJA chapters based on the theme of the conference which aims to address the need for multi-disciplinary approaches to achieve a truly integrated Asean with one heart and one mind, with Japan as a partner.

The conference will also explore potential areas for further collaboration among Asean and Japan and share strategic plans of each ASCOJA chapters on their expected roles in enriching Asean-Japan relations.

Established in 1977, ASCOJA is a regional association of major alumni organisations of former graduates, scholars, students and trainees of Japanese universities, schools and training institutions in all 10 Asean member countries and it aims to catalyse friendship, education, culture and social relationships among its members towards creating a dynamic Asean-Japan relationship.

Former Prime Minister of Japan Yasuo Fukuda was present as special guest at the opening ceremony yesterday. Also present was Deputy Minister of Education Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar.