[The Brunei Times]
CAMBODIA has again reiterated its keen interest to become one of the
main suppliers of high-quality rice for Brunei and has made formal
discussions with the relevant authority here, said the outgoing
Cambodian ambassador to Brunei yesterday.
In December last year,
His Excellency Nan Sy told The Brunei Times that Cambodia, one of the
Southeast Asian countries relying on agriculture sector to boost its
economy, was keen interest to export high-quality rice to Brunei.
He
told the paper again yesterday on the sidelines of a farewell reception
that the two countries must establish bilateral cooperation in the area
of agriculture and tourism in the near future.
The Ambassador,
who has completed his five-year term in the country since his
appointment in 2006, explained that agriculture has been the most
important sector in Cambodia and the nation could become a main supplier
of the Sultanate's staple food.
Sy said that the agricultural
sector contributes 85 per cent to Cambodia's economy, the remaining
contributions are received from the tourism sector and mining industry.
"We
do know that Brunei import vegetables, fruits and rice from some of the
countries in Asean. So that's why since we are an agricultural nation,
Cambodia is ready to supply (agricultural products) to Brunei,"
Although other details were not divulged, Sy said that "a discussion for the cooperation had been made".
Cambodia,
a country with more than 14 million population, has been enjoying a
close affinity with the Sultanate which has been providing scholarships
as well as information and technology training assistance to Cambodian
students and government officers.
The ambassador said the state
visit by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
to Cambodia in 2007 had heightened the cooperation between the two
nations and had opened the path for bilateral cooperation such as
technical assistance in oil and gas industry as well as education.
"I
would also like to take this opportunity to thank His Majesty's
government for what they have done for the students of Cambodia. His
Majesty granted scholarships to Cambodia's poor students to come to
visit UBD and also to study religious studies at the Universiti Islam
Sultan Sharif Ali (Unissa)."
Both states established diplomatic
relations on June 9, 1992, which saw bilateral visits by leaders and
government officials, and has since enjoyed bilateral cooperation which
covers a number of areas including defence, trade and education.
The outgoing Ambassador yesterday hosted a farewell reception from 3.45pm to 9pm at the embassy's building in the capital
Scheduled
to leave on May 29, Sy is expected to attend a farewell audience with
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam before
departing the Sultanate.
Invited to the reception yesterday were
cabinet ministers, foreign diplomats, senior government officials and
his personal acquaintances.
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