Thailand, Brunei seal MOU on agricultural cooperation

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 25 (TNA) - Thailand and Brunei have signed an agreement on agricultural cooperation, witnessed by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei and visiting Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) on agricultural cooperation was signed in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital, on Wednesday, during the Thai prime minister's two-day official visit to Brunei, set from March 25-26. The Thai prime minister and his entourage, including his wife, Naraporn Chan-ocha, arrived at Brunei International Airport at about 2pm, when they were officially received and then went to the Istana Nurul Iman Palace to be granted an audience with the Sultan of Brunei and to witness the MOU signing, together with the Sultan of Brunei. Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengboon Na Ayudhaya, who is also accompanying the Thai prime minister during his stay in Brunei, told TNA, meanwhile, that Brunei and Thailand have long cooperated on fishery and the signed MOU significantly started bilateral cooperation, at the government level, on halal food, in which Brunei is a regional leader in setting its quality standards and specifications. Pitipong pointed out that the MOU enhances cooperation on techniques and marketing of halal food between Brunei and Thailand, two member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by the end of this year. According to the minister, the MOU also covers bilateral cooperation between the two ASEAN member states on rice trade, livestock, research and development. The minister noted that Brunei has imported Thai rice for a long time, while Thailand is interested in fishery investment in Brunei. (TNA)