BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Brunei wanted to seek research and development (R&D) expertise from China to develop its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Brunei's entrepreneurs were quoted as saying by a local news daily on Tuesday.

During a dialogue session between the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD) and visiting China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) Secretariat officials, local businessman Haji Abdul Rahman said that Brunei entrepreneurs are eager to establish R&D with experts from China.

"Brunei is also seeking China's expertise to assist local SMEs with the overseas export of their products," he said.

He Xiaoling, the secretary-general of the CABIS Secretariat, said in her response, "If there is demand and supply, we can do that."

NCCIBD President Haji Kamaruddin said that Brunei will take part in the upcoming China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in China's Nanning and Brunei is currently focusing on the development of local SMEs.

"We want to empower them by making Brunei products available in the foreign market. We want to put on a good show at the upcoming annual CAEXPO."

Another local businessman, Haji Muslim, said that Brunei still required more imported goods to develop its manufacturing sector.