SCB Donates $700,000 To HoB Project

SCB Donates $700,000 To HoB Project 
By P Marilyn

Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak lsteri Pengiran
Anak Sarah (right) received a cheque from Mr Ray Ferguson (center).

Bandar Seri Begawan – The Heart of Borneo environmental project yesterday received a $700,000 (US$500,000) donation from Standard Chartered Bank Brunei.

The guest of honor was Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah ibni Pengiran Salleh Ab Rahaman. Yesterday's donation was affirmed with Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah receiving a cheque from Ray Ferguson, SCB's Regional CEO for Southeast Asia. She presented the cheque to Rodney Taylor from WWF. It was witnessed and acknowledged by Dato Paduka Awg Haji Hamdillah bin Haji Abdul Wahab, Chairman of Brunei's Heart of Borneo Council and Acting Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

Her Royal Highness has been a keen supporter of the environment. The Heart of Borneo project has received generous support through Her Royal Highness' patronage and commitment with projects such as the International School Brunei's (ISB) Million Trees Project in the past two years. Brunei having won Standard Chartered's Greatest Race on Earth Environment Challenge in 2008, and in securing the $700,000 fund, SCB Brunei will be working hand-in-hand with WWF and the Heart of Borneo Council in administering the HoB Borneo environmental programmed, a global initiative to conserve one of the most important natural habitats on our planet.

"As we celebrate our 50th year of operating in Brunei, I can't think of a better way for us to be giving back to the community and demonstrating our commitment to fighting climate change than this," said Ray Ferguson, said.

"Engaging employees, and raising awareness on environmental issues as well as acting as a force for good in the markets that we operate in across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, is adherent part of our business," he said.

Tiew Siew Chuen, CEO of SCB Brunei, underscored the bank's determination to lead by example the markets in which the bank operates.

"As well as finding ways to drive economic growth, we also want to help protect the environment and to have a positive impact on the societies where we live and work," she said.

"The Greatest Race on Earth, race for a living planet is one initiative that has achieved 3.4 million pledges globally and US$1 million funding towards environmental initiatives to three winning countries, with Brunei being the top winner," she said

She said the bank will continue to be a committed partner for the Brunei community and will strengthen the bank's sustainability programmed to support government initiatives, promote environmental protection and HIV awareness, as well as assist the visually impaired through SCE's Seeing is Believing initiative.

Dato Paduka Awg Haji Hamdillah sees this cooperation as an excellent example of partnership between the government, the corporate sector and an NGO.

"It is the sort of cooperation that helps make Brunei the beacon of the Heart of Borneo. Many of us put in a great deal of effort to ensure that Brunei would win the Greatest Race and I am delighted that we succeeded. We are going to show the world that we are in this for the long haul, and that we shall win the race to ensure a sustainable future for our natural environment," he said.

The first project to be allocated funding is the rehabilitation of Borneo's degraded peatland forests. It is an important step in reducing CO2 emissions, which will be undertaken in partnership with the British High Commission.

The second project is a biodiversity survey of the Sungai Ingei protection forest, leading to a better understanding of the state of wildlife RI the forest, the existence of any new species, and new ways of preserving these.

Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah plant a sapling that will be taken to the Heart of Borneo area.

Britain's Prince Charles, a longstanding supporter of rainforest preservation efforts in Borneo, who will be in the country on an official visit this week, is expected to visit an exhibition at a forest reserve. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Brunei To Host Europe-Asia Eco Workshop In 2009

Brunei To Host Europe-Asia Eco Workshop In 2009 
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam announced in his titah at the 4th closed session of 7th ASEM yesterday that Brunei will organize a workshop in 2009 for young scientists from Asia and Europe to converge for ideas and experiences on environmental protection and conservation.

During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, His Majesty also expressed his appreciation over the efforts of ASEM members in promoting cultural exchanges and interfaith dialogue. His Majesty attached importance in creating awareness and promoting exchanges amongst the youth on this topic as well as on other global challenges. Besides the fourth closed session, His Majesty also attended the second and third closed session in the morning. According the ASEM 7th website on new initiatives for ASEM 7, the workshop is on 'Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on the Biodiversity Tropical Rainforests'. Prior to the 4th closed session, His Majesty also attended a working luncheon hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao where leaders talked international and regional issues.

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The 7th ASEM Summit ended with a closing ceremony presided by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. ASEM leaders endorsed the chairman's statement, being a declaration on sustainable development and the statement of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting on the international financial crisis. President Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium as the host country of the 8th ASEM Summit in 2010 also addressed the ceremony.

The endorsed chairman's statement include leaders reaffirming the strategic importance of ASEM, and recognised that Asia and Europe are closely related geographically, historically and culturally, share many common ideals, are complementary in economic and social development and rich in cultural diversity. They recognised the high expectations placed on ASEM by their peoples, and emphasized the need to further strengthen Asia-Europe dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equal partnership, mutual respect, mutual benefit, seeking common grounds while shelving differences and learning from each other, which will bring about development opportunities and tangible benefits to both regions and be conducive to peace, stability and development.

Other topics endorsed in the chairman's statement were promoting political dialogue, advancing economic cooperation, driving sustainable development and furthering social and cultural exchanges.

Among the endorsed statement on the international financial situation, leaders believed that authorities should demonstrate vision and resolution and take firm, decisive and effective measures in a responsible and timely manner to rise to the challenge of the crisis. Leaders expressed full confidence that the crisis could be overcome through such concerted efforts.

On the Beijing Declaration on sustainable development, the leaders of ASEM are willing to strengthen cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner and work towards a win-win solution so as to make positive contribution to sustainable development.

The leaders also reaffirm that the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the Johannesburg targets underline international cooperation for sustainable development.

Other topics brought up in the declaration include climate changes and energy security and social cohesion.

Following the closing ceremony, His Majesty joined Premier Wen Jiabao, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, in a coordinator's press conference.

His Majesty then left Beijing in late afternoon. Before departure, a `Doa Selamat' was read by Pehin Dato Seri Maharaja Datu Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.    -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Shell & HSBC donated B$1,000,000

$1,000,000 For Heart Of Borneo 
By Amin Hosni

Bandar Seri Begawan - Heart of Borneo project yesterday received a whopping BND1,000,000 from two sponsors.

As part of their ongoing efforts to protect the environment, Brunei Shell Petroleum and HSBC partnered with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources donated separately two cheques of BND 500,000 each amounting to BND 1,000,000. Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah was the guest oh honour yesterday at the sponsorship presentation ceremony for the Heart of Borneo. The ceremony was held at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Jerudong. First to present the sponsorship was Dr Grahaeme Henderson, Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum.

Followed by HSBC's Mr Tareq Muhmood, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Brunei. HSBC presented their sponsorship of BND $500,000. Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah received the cheques which she later presented to Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah Haji Abdul Wahab, Acting Minister of Industry and Primary Resources and also Chairman of the Brunei Darussalam Heart of Borneo (HoB) National Council.

Prior to the presentation, Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah in his opening remarks said, "Our current efforts are focused on setting up the Heart of Borneo Brunei Centre. We are sourcing an internationally recognised conservation expert to lead the operations of the Centre, who will help manage it together with our own team of experts from MIPR and other relevant government departments as well as partners from the private sector.

"Among the top priorities of the Heart of Borneo Brunei Centre would be to take forward the recommendations outlined in the Project Implementation Framework and ensure that they are translated into concrete actions on the ground."

Meanwhile, Dr Grahaeme Henderson said, "Brunei Shell Petroleum has played a pivotal role in Brunei's Heart of Borneo project. We are proud to have been the initiating partner, with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, when the Heart of Borneo project was still on the drawing board".

"Brunei Shell Petroleum's contribution towards the heart of Borneo started with the funding of the Project Implementation Framework phase. We have also extended technical assistance through mapping and satellite interpretation, together with the secondment of one of our geologists to work with the teams from MIPR and the World Wildlife Fund."

Dr Henderson continued, "Brunei Shell Petroleum, together with the Royal Dutch Shell Group, is happy to team up with HSBC and support MIPR in establishing the Heart of Borneo Centre. The Royal Dutch Shell Group has generously agreed to provide sponsorship of BND $0.5 million over a two year period and we will continue to provide assistance wherever we can".

Mr Tareq Muhmood meanwhile said, "Today is much more important than just handing over a contribution. It is the early steps in a journey towards a sustainable future. HSBC's roles in the Heart of Borneo initiatives are two-fold: putting the infrastructure in place to move the HoB initiatives forward and funding the field experiments on the long term effects of climate change led by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Universiti Brunei Darussalam”.

The event also saw a video presentation by BSP and HSBC entitled 'Our Commitment to Sustainable Environment' and a pesambah presented to HRH Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah by both Dr Grahaeme Henderson and Tareq Muhmood.

Dr Grahaeme Henderson also presented a HoB Project Implementation Framework Negara Brunei Darussalam Final Report to Her Royal Highness.

Brunei Darussalam boasts some of the world's most well-preserved and pristine environment. It has a rich biodiversity and is still largely intact which demonstrated the Government of Brunei's prudent conservation policies.   -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin