Page 58 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL2

“My priority is to promote cooperation in the agricultural sector, including halal food, and related research. Thailand has been seen as the ‘kitchen of the world’.”This year is significant in terms of diplomatic relations. In February Brunei celebrated its 30th year of Independence. There have also been 30 years of diplomatic relations with Thailand. On Brunei’s National Day on February 23, Thai communities also joined a national parade. Thailand’s Ministry of Culture will sponsor an orchestral performance led by ML Usni Pramoj on September 12.The relationship between the two countries is warm and cordial thanks in part to close relations between the two royal families. But Ambassador Apichart thinks bilateral trade could use a boost.“My priority is to promote cooperation in the agricultural sector, including halal food, and related research. Thailand has been seen as the ‘kitchen of the world’. We have research, human resources and expertise in food and agriculture. We are thinking about the private sector having some kind of joint venture under the Brunei halal brand.”Cooperation regarding halal food production has already begun. In 2012 Bruneian ministers and delegates travelled to Thailand to meet ministers and visit the Halal Sciencebridges and a Brunei-Malaysia bridge. The country needs foreign workers to build this infrastructure.Ambassador Apichart expects some progress in trade ties between Thailand and Brunei this year. In the next few months it is possible the two governments will sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) duringThailand’s interim government. MoUs were scheduled last year but postponed due to the political situation in Thailand. The proposed MoUs focused on cooperation in four aspects of trade: agricultural products, especially halal food production; labour cooperation; anti-human trafficking; and avoidance of double taxation.56 Elite+