Bandar Seri Begawan - A second visit was conducted by a research group from the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), Japan to the Sungai Liang Forestry Centre as part of a continuous study and research on microorganisms in Brunei.

Two NITE researchers, Dr Yasuhisa Tsurumi and Dr Yukiyo Fukunaga brought along research tools that were used in March, during an 'Exploration of Microorganisms Programme' in collaboration with local researchers from Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the Department of Forestry. Currently, the research group is planning on accumulating research materials over a three-week long period, beginning this week.

The research programme between NITE and Brunei has already accumulated close to 700 transplanted breeding samples from soil, water, leaf, twigs and animals associated with the forest, and works to accumulate research materials from the Rampayoh Labi and Berakas forest reserve.

Dr Yasuhisa Tsurumi said, "Through this first and second research programme, we hope to acquire hundreds and thousands of fungal and bacterial species to produce breeding samples for basic research in Brunei, because the more advanced research will be carried out in Japan where there is better equipment and expertise available for the purpose."

The Permanent Secretary, Economic head and Public Relations officer of the Japanese Embassy in Brunei, Mr Okouchi Hiroshi has informed that Japan hopes to continue having long-standing cooperation and relations with Brunei in this programme. This is seen as a new method in producing economic production in the Sultanate.

Brunei has great potential in the microorganism field, which attracted NITE to conduct its research here, and in cooperation with researchers from UBD and the Forestry Department, NITE hopes to expand the Exploration of Microorganism Programme in a profitable venture for both countries.

Over time, the addition of resources from the research can be used in the manufacture of food, medicine, and cosmetic products. The period of tests and research will take at least 10 years, in phases and each product, which has been effectively manufactured, will then undergo animal testing on mice and other animals before being distributed to the public.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Exploration of Microorganism Programme between NITE and the Ministry of Industries and Primary Resources was signed in the month of July the previous year, and in this programme , Brunei will contribute to the research field of microorganism research through expertise and equipment shared by the two countries.

Through this programme, both countries will work together to contribute in the awakening of academics in science and technology as well as microorganism, which can also be used to add to the industrial sectors with the manufacture of products such as medicine, soap, healthy food and also environmentally friendly products. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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