Top Story: ASEAN ends first round of RCEP negotiations
Members of the negotiating panel agreed to take into consideration “the different levels of development of the participating countries” and will include provisions for special and differential treatment for the least-developed ASEAN member states. The second round of consultations is scheduled for Sept. 23 to 27 in Australia.
HIGHLIGHTS:
RCEP as platform to integrate ASEAN economies: In an interview with The Brunei Times on the sidelines of the 'First Meeting of the RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee and Working Groups' (1st RCEP-TNC), Iman Pambagyo, director-general of International Trade Cooperation at Indonesia's Ministry of Trade said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) already has the "modalities or facts" in creating a regional production base. He explained that a consolidated rules of origin is a process that will allow participating countries to collectively pool their materials together to create an end product in another participating member country.
Brunei to launch Green Building Council | Brunei Times, May 10
Brunei’s very own Green Building Council (GBC) will be launched tomorrow, a step towards making sure that efforts in complying with the concept of green buildings will be realised according to a set of benchmarks. The GBC was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on March 6, and the 14-member committee was formed during the first Inaugural General Meeting on April 5, said GBC President Dato Paduka Hj Idris Hj Abas yesterday.
Brunei, Korea see potential in healthcare collaboration | Brunei Times, May 13
Choi Byung Koo said in South Korea, as per capita income increases, more people in Korea were "interested" in increasing their daily health conditions. "There is great potential (for Brunei and South Korea) to work together in the area of medical," Choi said in an e-mail interview following the opening of Ceragem Korea (B) Sdn Bhd in Brunei. "Not only medical services, therapies of various kinds are practiced in Korea."
Brunei aims to improve land transportation system | Borneo Bulletin, May 11
Brunei Darussalam will create its own Land Transport White Paper to provide the government with a focus on long-term policies in further improving the land transportation system as the final stage of the Land Transport Master Plan currently being conducted by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) along with appointed consultants from SQW China Limited and its associate, Atkins.
StanChart eyes gov't sector with new payroll banking | Brunei Times, May 14
Standard Chartered Bank Brunei (SCB) has set its sights on attracting more government servants to deposit their salaries with the bank as part of its long-term initiatives, said SCB Head of Corporate Strategic Initiatives Pg Aki Ismasufian. During a press conference to introduce SCB's new head of employee banking Dk Hjh Suzie Fadriawaty PHA Rahman yesterday, Pg Aki Ismasufian explained to the media that the bank has been motivated to seek further growth in the salary segment after seeing a positive response from one of its offerings.
New water testing lab to ensure safe supply | Brunei Times, May 15
A water testing laboratory was launched yesterday to ensure tap water in the Sultanate is healthy and safe to consume. The Department of Water Services's Tasek Water Laboratory, located just outside Tasek Lama Recreational Park in the capital, will conduct daily tests on samples of Brunei's water according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, the director-general of the Public Works Department (PWD) said.
'Retaining manpower in blue-collar service industry still a big hurdle' | Brunei Times, May 15
Relevant authorities are urged to look into the human resources challenges faced by Brunei's small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which have led some industry operators here to call it quit. One such industry affected is the auto detailing sector, where poor attitude among jobseekers in the blue-collar service industry was blamed, leading some operators' businesses spiralling downward.
Excessive water usage in Brunei unsustainable | Borneo Post, May 15
The enormous wastage in the consumption of water by the population of Brunei Darussalam will become unsustainable if nothing is done to reduce the excessive average usage of water per person in the country. Currently, Brunei Darussalam has the highest rate of water usage in Asia and it has become a concern for the Ministry of Development, Borneo Bulletin reported.
Sikorsky Aerospace to modify Brunei Shell S-92s | Financial News, May 15
US helicopter maker Sikorsky´s Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) unit said it plans to perform the first post-delivery search and rescue modifications to Brunei Shell´s Sikorsky S-92 helicopter. Originally configured for offshore oil missions, the aircraft will undergo a comprehensive conversion to a SAR configuration to serve customers in Borneo and the surrounding Southeast Asia region.