By Sonia K

Bandar Seri Beagawan - The Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Brunei, Awg Haji Mohd Jaafar bin Haji Awang Bakar, will travel to Japan as part of the Japan-Brunei Friendship Programme from March 9 till 13.

The programme is offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) to Bruneians who play a leading role in Brunei to deepen understanding between the people of the two countries through the exchange of views with Japanese experts from government and private sectors as well as visits to industrial institutions in Tokyo and its surrounding areas.

Haji Mohd Jaafar recently paid a courtesy call on Mr Masayoshi Hamada, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Japan, and will have the opportunity to take part in briefings or seminars given by various organisations in Japan, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (MET[), Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation. He is also expected to meet with high-level officials in the Japanese government and visit a methanol plant of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company in Niigata.

Japan is the leading country on energy conservation technology, motivated by the oil crisis of 1970s. Since then, Japan has been actively developing new technologies and research on energy conservation and wishes to share its experience and knowledge with other countries in this field.

The Embassy of Japan expressed hopes that Haji Mohd Jaafar's visit to Japan will be fruitful and he will gain a deeper understanding of Japan. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin