2011
Specialist Dispatch Project in Brunei
Under CLAIR’s Specialist Dispatch Project scheme, a specialist from Oita
Prefecture, Mr. Shoichi Asaki, was dispatched to Brunei from 11th to 23rd
December 2010, based on a request made by Brunei’s Ministry of Home Affairs
as part of the Ministry’s efforts to promote the Development of Local Specialty
Product (One Village One Product) movement in Brunei. Some of the objectives
of the dispatch project included the learning of marketing techniques,
quality management and hygiene control with regards to some of Brunei’s
local specialty products.
On the first day of the dispatch project, a brief introduction was given
by both the specialist and a representative from Brunei’s Ministry of Home
Affairs on the various Development of Local Specialty Product (One Village
One Product) movement and initiatives that were implemented in Oita Prefecture
and Brunei respectively. In the following five days, site visits were made
to the respective villages that were involved in the Development of Local
Specialty Product (One Village One Product) movement in Brunei’s four districts,
namely the Brunei-Muara District, Tutong District, Belait District and
Temburong District. During these visits, the specialist was given the opportunity
to directly interact with the villagers and at the same time, offered his
advice and suggestions on various issues that the villagers were facing
in areas such as the production of processed mango or marine products,
as well as the making of handicraft products.
After the visits, training sessions were conducted and the program concluded
with an overall discussion session on the final day of the dispatch period,
where the specialist and local villagers exchanged their ideas and opinions.
Among the numerous questions asked were those related to marketing techniques
and the possible potential of exporting Brunei’s local products overseas.
To this, the specialist advised that local villagers should not be over-dependent
on the government, and that he hopes that “through the experiences from
countless failures, Brunei will be able to build up your own brand using
your own hands.”
The Specialist Dispatch Project also received a considerable amount of
media attention in Brunei, with several local newspapers reporting consecutively
on the visits and training sessions during the dispatch period, revealing
the high-level of awareness by Brunei’s government and its people towards
their Development of Local Specialty Product (One Village One Product)
movement.
Site visit at the Brunei-Muara District
