On behalf of the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT), Representative Andrew Lee of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Brunei Darussalam hands over 2,400 medical masks to the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD) on 7 September, 2020. The masks are accepted by Mr. Hanafi Rahman, Executive Director of NCCIBD. This donation represents IEAT’s friendship towards NCCIBD and demonstrates its determination to join NCCIBD to fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Halim Saim, President of ASEAN Food and Beverage Alliance(AFBA) (also Deputy Secretary-General of NCCIBD) is also present to witness the donation ceremony.
Since the outbreak of pandemic, Taiwan and Brunei have effectively contained the epidemic, making both countries an exemplary model for the global fight against the coronavirus disease.
The effective cooperation between public and private sectors as well as between governments is a key to fight against the contagious illness. The masks offered by IEAT to NCCIBD symbolizes Taiwan’s friendship and goodwill towards the Borneo people, and illustrates the spirit that "a good neighbor is not to be traded for gold." As part of IEAT’s effort in joining the international fight against the pathogen, this is the second batch of masks given to a Borneo industry association following the first one donated to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, BSB, Brunei on 2 September.
IEAT was established in 1947, with more than 6,000 member companies based in Taipei City and other major cities in Taiwan. It is one of the largest and most influential business organizations in Taiwan. NCCIBD, founded in 1985, is the most important umbrella business association in Brunei. Both of them are non-governmental commercial organizations with a long history and outstanding contributions to the social and economic developments in Taiwan and Brunei.
Dr. Kamaruddin Talib, former Executive Director of NCCIBD, had led a delegation to visit Taiwan from June 26 to July 1, 2018. During the visit, the delegates met with governmental organizations, business associations and private enterprises to explore cooperation projects and business opportunities in the fields of tourism, food processing, oil and gas, and Halal products. IEAT made a reciprocal visit to Brunei to participate in the 2018 “Brunei Halal Showcase, BruHAS”, and called on NCCIBD during their stay in Brunei.
Donation presentation to Executive Director Hanafi Rahman of NCCIBD
Representative Andrew Lee(second from the left), Executive Director Hanafi(second from the right) and Deputy Secretary-General Halim(first from the right) in a group photo