May 31, 2024

 

Brunei joins ASEAN Food Security Alliance with new MOU

Brunei's private sector is set to formally join the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines and ASEAN BAC Brunei, The Philippine Star reported.

 

AFSA aims to enhance the ASEAN region's food security through strategic partnerships, technology and knowledge exchange, and expanded market access. Leading this initiative is ASEAN BAC Philippines chair and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion.

 

The upcoming MOU is an extension of the initial agreement signed by ASEAN BAC Brunei and ASEAN BAC Philippines during last year's ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. This agreement focuses on conducting joint studies and mentorship channels for potential agriculture, agriculture technology, food security, and agri-preneurship business models.

 

The new MOU includes a direct partnership between agricultural companies in the Philippines and Brunei. Additionally, the private sectors of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand are also participating in this regional agricultural cooperation.

 

The signing of Brunei's MOU coincides with President Marcos' state visit to the sultanate. Joey Concepcion will sign on behalf of the Philippines, while ASEAN BAC Brunei chair Haslina Taib will be represented by ASEAN BAC Brunei Council member Musa Adnin.

 

Other signatories include former Philippine Agriculture Secretary and Go Negosyo senior adviser William Dar, ASEAN BAC executive director Gil Gonzales, Yovel East president James Amparo, Bounty Fresh president Tennyson Chen, Brunei Association of Agricultural Farmers president YB Pengiran Haji Isa Bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin, and Hua Ho Agricultural Farm representative Haji Abdul Halim Bin Haji Saim.

 

As part of the AFSA initiative, Concepcion led a visit by Philippine agriculture companies to Malaysia in April to explore potential partnerships in various agricultural commodities such as dairy, poultry, and corn.

 

During the Malaysia visit, the Philippine delegation was briefed on innovations and best practices in Malaysian agriculture, including the application of genomics and big data. Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Ma Angela Ponce pledged her support for the follow-through with the Malaysian private sector.

 

Concepcion said that AFSA will facilitate direct engagements between the private sectors of participating countries, adding that in the next two years, they will build a roadmap leading to the Philippines chairmanship in 2026.

 

Agriculture is set to be the legacy project of ASEAN BAC Philippines when it assumes the chairmanship in 2026. The legacy project from its 2017 chairmanship, the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN), has already produced nearly 200 graduates of the MSME mentoring program and established a region-wide network of entrepreneurship mentors.

 

-      The Philippine Star