BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEI’S acceptance as a member country of the Coral Triangle Initiatives on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI – CFF) was discussed yesterday during a courtesy call held at the Bio-Innovation Corridor.

The CTI – CFF is a multilateral partnership of six countries that was formed in 2007 to address urgent threats facing the coastal and marine resources of one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically rich regions on the planet.

Representing the Sultanate was the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.

He met with a delegation led by the CTI – CFF Executive Director Regional Secretariat, Professor Dr Widi Agoes Pratikto. The regional secretariat is based in Manado, Indonesia.

During the courtesy call, views were exchanged on the process of acceptance of Brunei as a new member state.

They also agreed to strengthen regional cooperation and joint efforts through training and an exchange of experts, personnel and research to implement activities underlined in the CTI – CFF Regional Plan of Actions.

In May last year, Brunei had reiterated and reconfirmed its intent to be a party to the CTI –CFF and it attained “Observer State” status during the 5th CTI – CFF Ministerial Meeting in Manado, Indonesia.

By attaining membership of the multilateral partnership, Brunei would be able to strengthen its research collaborations in further understanding the marine ecosystem and in developing effective management strategies for the benefits of the global communities.

The CTI-CFF members currently include Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste.

According to the CTI – CFF official website, the Coral Triangle region homes the highest coral diversity in the world with 76 per cent of the world’s known coral species.

It also contains the highest reef fish diversity on the planet with 37 per cent of the world’s reef fish species concentrated in the area.

In an earlier report, it was said that Brunei would “soon become a member of the Coral Triangle” during the Second Plenary Session of the Asia-Europe Meeting in 2012.

The Brunei Times