Brunei wants more FDIs in pharmaceutical field: official

Brunei wants to work with global pharmaceutical experts and invite them to invest and operate in the country to grow the industry here, an official has said.

Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, the chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) was quoted as saying by local daily the Brunei Times on Tuesday.

Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, also Brunei's deputy minister of finance, said the government intends to expand the "scope of activities within the pharmaceutical industry" which includes increasing the range of pharmaceutical products.

He, however, pointed out that Brunei needs to attract foreign direct investments (FDIs) to grow the local pharmaceutical industry.

The BEDB chairman said the government needs to work with foreign companies that have massive experience and expertise in pharmaceuticals as the industry is a sophisticated and technical field.

"We need to bring in FDIs just like Simpor Pharma who are a joint-venture with us, to create that activity," he said.

Simpor Pharma is Brunei's pioneering contract manufacturer in compliance with the worldwide current standard for pharmaceutical products and health supplements.

Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah said that an expansion of the industry would open the door for local entrepreneurs to "play a bigger role in it." Endit