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Since independence in 1984, Brunei
Darussalam has been a member of various
regional and international organisations.
One of the most significant memberships is
that of ASEAN and Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC).
In the agricultural sector, the Department plays an
important role in the ASEAN Meeting in Agriculture and
Forestry (AMAF) and is active in its sub-sectors, such as
ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Agricultural
Cooperatives (AWGAC), ASEAN Sectoral Working Group
on Crop (AWGC), ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on
Livestock (AWGL), ASEAN Food Security Reserve
Board (AFSRB), ASEAN Working Group on
Extension Services (AWGATE) and others. As a
member of these sub-sectors, The Department of
Agriculture benefited from the technical
cooperation, visits and the assistance given by the
developed countries. Besides the involvement in
AMAF, the staffs of Department of Agriculture are also
involved in Sub-Committee of Food and Sub-Committee
of Biotechnology under the ASEAN Committee on Science and
Technology (COST).
The Department of Agriculture is also actively involved in The
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines – East ASEAN
Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Brunei Darussalam hosted the
BIMP-EAGA Orchid Congress in 2001.
Since 1998, the Department has been actively involved in
collaborating with the Commonwealth Secretariat through The
Commonwealth Fund on Technical Cooperation (CFTC).
Among the successful projects implemented was “Institutional
Support for Horticulture, Agro-Processing and Production”,
“Feasibility Assessment of A Commercial Floriculture
Industry”, “Technical Assistance To Enhance Competitiveness
Of Agribusiness in Brunei Darussalam” and “Feasibility study
on establishment of Feed Mill in Brunei Darussalam”. The
collaboration with Commonwealth Secretariat brought
changes to The Department of Agriculture towards the
Development of Agriculture and Agri-Food Industry.
The Department of Agriculture is also committed in long-term
collaborations and co-operations in agricultural research and
development with regional and international organisations,
including the Regional Center for Graduate Study and
Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Asian Regional Centre for
Tropical Biology (BIOTROP), CAB International and the
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute
(MARDI) and Standards and Industrial Research Institute of
Malaysia (SIRIM). Brunei Darussalam is also member to
Codex Alimentarius Commission and World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE).
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