BRUNEI DARUSSALAM KEEN TO LEARN FROM DUBAI'S EXPERTISE IN TRADE & TOURISM

A top level delegation from Brunei (Darussalam) led by His Excellency Haji Abd Wahab bin Juned, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office and Director General of the Department of Economic Planning and Development called on Khalid A. bin Sulayem, Director General of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai yesterday (June 11th) to discuss and study the emirate's marketing and promotion methods.

Mr. bin Sulayem welcomed the delegates comprising senior officials from Brunei's government departments. The delegation included Mr. Haji Murni bin Haji Mohamed, Director planning, Department of Economic Planning and Development, Mr. Haji Kamis bin Haji Tamin, Director Policy and Coordination, Department of Economic Planning and Development, Mr. Nor Jusmin bin Haji Abd Samad, Senior Administrative Officer, Department of Economic Planning and Development.

"Their primary objective of visiting Dubai was to study and gain knowledge of the expertise of Dubai in the trade and tourism sectors and we provided them with a comprehensive overview of the emirate's economy as well as an in-depth presentation of how we have positioned Dubai as a top class tourist destination in the international market," said Mr. bin Sulayem.

Mr. bin Sulayem remarked that Brunei Darussalam's vision was to promote their country as a unique tourist destination and gateway to tourism excellence in South East Asia.

"They are on a drive to diversify from the economic dependence on oil and are keen to gain knowledge from our experiences," said Mr. bin Sulayem. "The Brunei government is now actively promoting tourism as an important part of its economic diversification," he said.

Brunei Darussalam is still very much dependent on revenues from crude oil and natural gas to finance its development programmes and is the third largest oil producer in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest producer of liquefied natural gas in the world.