The Brunei private sector will formally join the ASEAN Food Security Alliance (AFSA) with the signing of an MOU between the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines and ASEAN BAC Brunei this May 29 in Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam. AFSA aims to strengthen the ASEAN region’s food security through strategic partnerships; technology and knowledge exchange of best practices and experiences; and expand market access and diversify agricultural enterprises within the ASEAN. Leading the initiative is ASEAN Business Advisory BAC Philippines Chair and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion.

This MOU is the tangible result of the initial MOU agreement signed by ASEAN BAC Brunei and ASEAN BAC Philippines last year during the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta which aims to jointly conduct studies and mentorship channels for potential agriculture, agriculture technology, food security, and agri-preneurship business models. The new MOU now features a direct partnership between an agricultural company in the Philippines and Brunei. The private sectors of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand have also formally participated in this regional agriculture cooperation.

Brunei’s MOU will be signed in time for Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to the sultanate. Signing for the Philippines is Concepcion, and for Brunei is ASEAN BAC Brunei Chair Haslina Taib who will be represented by ASEAN BAC Brunei Council Member Musa Adnin.

Brunei’s MOU covers the exploration of ventures in land lease-holding arrangements, strategic partnerships, co-investment opportunities, and other collaborative options, initially covering rice, durian, and poultry. “These initiatives harness the strengths of the ASEAN private sector to strengthen food security in the region,” said Concepcion.

The MOU with  Brunei will also be signed by former Philippine Agriculture Sec. and now Go Negosyo Senior Adviser Dr. William Dar, ASEAN BAC Executive Director Gil Gonzales, Yovel East President James Amparo, Bounty Fresh President Tennyson Chen, Brunei Association of Agricultural Farmers President YB Pengiran Haji Isa Bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin, and Hua Ho Agricultural Farm Rep. Haji Abdul Halim Bin Haji Saim.

AFSA was introduced during the Philippines private sector’s visit to Malaysia last April, where it put forward several initiatives to enhance cooperation on food security and develop the region’s MSMEs.

As part of the AFSA initiative, Concepcion led Philippine agriculture companies in a visit to Malaysia last April to explore potential partnerships in oil palm, rubber, rice, dairy, poultry, pineapple, durian, banana, coconut, and corn. Welcoming them was ASEAN BAC Malaysia chair Tan Sri Nazir Razak, ASEAN BAC chair Oudet Souvannavong, B2B Connect Initiative chair and former Malaysia trade minister Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed. Similar visits are planned to the other ASEAN member states.

During the Malaysia visit, the Philippine group was briefed on innovations and best practices of Malaysian agriculture companies in key commodities, including the application of genomics and big data in agriculture. Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Ma. Angela Ponce pledged her support as the Philippine mission follows through with the initial connections made with the Malaysian private sector.

Concepcion explained that AFSA will create engagements directly between the private sectors of the participating countries. “Creating this level of private sector partnerships in agriculture has not been done before,” he said. “Engaging private sector at this level will take time but I expect it will gain traction as we uncover the many areas in which we could collaborate on a country-to-country level. The benefits of this matchmaking are tremendous,” he said.

“This is only the beginning. In the next two years, we will build a roadmap leading to the Philippines chairmanship in 2026,” said Concepcion. Agriculture is poised to be the legacy project of ASEAN BAC Philippines when it assumes the chairmanship in 2026. Its legacy project from its chairmanship in 2017, the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN), has already produced nearly 200 graduates of the MSME mentoring program and established a region-wide network of entrepreneurship mentors.

“Harnessing the strengths of the private sector for the benefit of the region is delivering on our mandate of boosting ASEAN’s efforts towards economic integration and promoting economic cooperation,” Concepcion said.