Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance and the Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (center) as the guest of honour, with Chen Lian Cai, President of Chinese Enterprises Association in Brunei and CEO of Hengyi Industries and Her Excellency Yang Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam cutting the ribbon to officiate the inaugural ceremony of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Brunei which was held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday

Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew delivering his speech on the occasion

I attended an interesting event yesterday at The Empire Hotel. It was the inaugural ceremony of a new association called the Chinese Enterprises Association in Brunei (CEAB). It was interesting in a way that for the first time there is a new registered association where it’s a collaboration between Brunei Darussalam and China for the Chinese-owned businesses or joint venture in Brunei Darussalam. A big example will be Hengyi Industries (part of PMB project) and CCC Third Harbour Engineering Co LTD (for the Telisai-Lumut Highway).

For the record, there are 27 Chinese owned companies being present in our Sultanate and it is helping to spur the local economy and also create employments as well. Hence, it does make sense to create an association to help the business match making side of it and also to create more opportunities (inside and outside) for Brunei Darussalam.

The event was witnessed by several foreign dignitaries and prominent figures in the local Chinese community and the guest of honour was Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance and the Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board.

He shared how the the association will have a positive spin to the Brunei economy with a platform to share ideas and businesses and not forgetting to also create opportunities among the local SMEs in Brunei. Their presence also signifies that we don’t have to rely so much on oil and gas as a source of revenue.

Dato Amin highlighted some of the ongoing project and businesses from the China in Brunei such as Hengyi Industries on the Pulau Muara Besar and Hiseaton Fisheries, a project that is worth $300 million of output yearly. As for the technology side of things, we have the presence of HuaWei in Brunei Darussalam.

Currently the President of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Brunei is Chen Lian Cai who is also the CEO of Hengyi Industries. He shared in his remarks that the companies in China were encouraged to expand outside their country and looked for opportunities for a win-win situation. To no surprise, Brunei currently has 27 Chinese owned companies and hence, the CEAB couldn’t have come at a timely manner.

I’m actually quite surprised by the number of Chinese listed companies in Brunei. Now with CEAB on board, it can create more awareness on their existence and I myself would like to learn on how they contribute to the economy and also their purpose/intention.

Thank you, CEAB, for the invitation yesterday and also for the door gift.

Her Excellency Yang Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam receiving a token of appreciation from Guan ZhongWei, Chief Representative of HuaWei Brunei Office back in April 2015. Image taken from Borneo Bulletin.

The Telisai-Lumut Highway which was a project handled by Xing-An-Ji, a subsidiary of China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) Third Harbour Engineering Co Ltd. The supposedly project was delayed for 3 years and now it’s already opened for road users.

Hengyi Industries ran a scholarship program and this was the first batch of students that graduated in July 2015 from Zhejiang University.

Shanghai Third Harbour Benteng Construction and Engineering Co & Pahaytc Sdn Bhd on behalf of Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd will commence constructing of marine jetties at Ujung Sapuh, Pulau Muara Besar. The project is slated to finish around 2017.

The $85 million Ulu Tutong Dam which is near its completion. This project is handled by Sinohydro Corp. The company is also working together with another Chinese based company Pahaytc Venture Sdn Bhd. Image courtesy of The Brunei Times.

Tsui Fangcai, Deputy General Director of Sinohydro Corp, shared the updates on the Ulu Tutong Dam to The Brunei Times yesterday. You can click image to read more. Image courtesy of Zaim Kasmat of The Brunei Times.

Director of Hiseaton Fisheries Liu Xi Lei (L) exchange documents with Acting Director of Fisheries Halidi Salleh for a joint venture to operate an aquaculture research and development centre in early July . Image courtesy of Wardi Wasil of The Brunei Times.

Another Chinese linked company called Sesame World Technology which involves 3D and animation. Their office is located Design and Technology Building. The image was taken at ICC last year.