Brunei and Malaysia Ink Deal to Boost Cooperation
By Kartika Rahman
Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia yesterday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in the field of training and education of cooperatives.
Through the sharing of knowledge and expertise by Cooperative College Malaysia (CCM), Brunei will have the opportunity to gain awareness and understanding in the field of management and development of local cooperatives.
CCM is a government agency under Malaysia's Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development.
Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Brunei Industry Development Authority (BINA), Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, while the Malaysian Government was represented by CCM, Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development.
BINA was represented by its Acting Director, Pg Sharfuddin bin Hj Matali, while CCM was represented by its Director, Kamaluddin bin Othman.
On hand to witness to signing of the MoU were Brunei's Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Dato Dr Awang Hj Ahmad bin Hj Jumat, and Malaysia's Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development, Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The MoU is seen as a win-win situation, as cooperatives in both countries can benefit from the cooperation through sharing of information and knowledge, exchange programmes, educational seminars, workshops and consultation programmes.
Some 100 people witnessed the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources building. Among them were heads of departments, members of GKN (Gabungan Koperasi Nasional or National Cooperative Federation), as well as cooperative leaders and officers of BINA.
CCM was established in 1968, with the purpose of preparing training services, education, and knowledge-based activities for the development of cooperatives in Malaysia.
Cooperation such as this has long been sought; this MoU was initially mooted during a discussion between BINA and CCM officers who were in Brunei for a working visit last December.
This was followed by further consultations between the two ministries during the 8th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Minister's Meeting held in March in Kuala Lumpur.
BINA has a long-standing relationship with CCM, as BINA officers are often sent for various courses at CCM such as in management, administration, accounting and auditing.
While in Brunei, the Malaysian delegation will be visiting a number of local cooperatives.
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin, 10 July 2007
