The APTERR Secretariat participated in the meeting to discuss on a possibility of potential cooperation on Tier 1 programme between Brunei Darussalam and Japan to enhance food stability and resilience.
The meeting was conducted on 19 September 2024 at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), Brunei Darussalam with representatives from Brunei’s MPRT, Ministry of Finance and Economy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the APTERR Secretariat. The meeting was presided over by Noralinda binti Haji Ibrahim, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of MPRT.
Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat, introduced APTERR’s activities and encouraged Brunei, a country dependent on rice imports, to join Tier 1, highlighting the country’s potential to diversify rice supply sources during emergencies.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kenichi HIRANO, Director of Grain Trade and Operation Division, MAFF-Japan, expressed Japan’s interest in cooperating with Brunei on Tier 1 programme. Currently, Japan has Tier 1 with the Philippines. which is expected to enter its third phase in October 2024. This is the only Tier 1 implementation since the APTERR became the permanent reginal mechanism in 2011.
Besides, the meeting addressed issues related to the upcoming 13th APTERR Council Meeting. Which will host in Japan next year under the co-chairmanship of Japan and Brunei. They also discussed a progress of Concept Paper on the APTERR Table Exercise initiative by Brunei and the background of this exercise.
