Brunei and Taiwan’s economic growth has created a historical record for the first time with a total trade volume of USD80 million, a 117.81 per cent growth as of January to December 2010, according to official statistics released to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei yesterday.

Mr Terry Ting, the representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei Darussalam, disclosed this yesterday.

“We never had such huge trade surplus volume in the past,” said Mr Terry. In 2009, Brunei only had USD500,000 trade with Taiwan.

Taiwan has become a very important and strong partner of Brunei and we expect that such growth will continue in 2012, he said.

Our relation with Brunei is step-by-step and we have a three years strategic plan. The first year 2010 is the year of approach – that is to build a solid partnership with Brunei. Second year 2011 is the year of action – where we take strong action to participate at various activities in Brunei including having the Taiwan Halal Food Festival last year. The third year 2012 is the year of partnership – for investment and trade.

Mr Terry Ting said that this year, they will also bring in a large delegation of university students from different universities in Taiwan to come to Brunei for an educational programme in June or July.

The delegation will pay a visit to UBD and Chung Hwa School in the capital and also visit rural areas such as to Temburong district. He said since last year, they already have an education exchange of students programme with UBD.

They offered UBD to sent their students to Taiwan for six months and one year programme.