TWO researchers from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) are currently attending a special training programme in Japan under the Brunei Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (BJEPA) which ends on the first of next month.

Ang Nee Biaw and Dk Haslina Pg Razali are expected to spend four days at Hokkaido Research Centre Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Sapporo, Japan.

Ang Nee Biaw will be taking the DNA analysis for genotyping small mammals while Dk Haslina will be learning the use of the latest and up-to-date genetic techniques which will assist their research activities at the university.

While in Japan they will also get the chance to visit the Science Museum and have a discussion with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

The two Bruneian researchers paid a courtesy call recently to the Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam, Hashimoto Itsuo where he expressed his hope for the two to experience Japan at its most and to contribute to the development of Brunei biology and the future diversification of the economy upon their return.

The BJEPA was signed in June 2007 by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during his working visit to Japan.

Although the EPA has not officially come into effect, the Science and Technology Special Training Programme is being implemented as one of the programmes announced in the Joint Statement when the BJEPA was signed.

The Brunei Times