ALONGSIDE partaking in the Singapore Airshow 2008 this week, the Royal Brunei Technical Services (RBTS) is also in the midst of discussions to seek forms of collaboration and partnerships to further develop niche areas such as support services.

The RBTS has been holding meetings and dialogues with several potential partners to collaborate with in support services areas namely; maintenance and modification, repair and overhaul for land, sea and air systems.

Envisioning to complement the defence industry and support services in the region, the RBTS is also identifying suitable partners towards developing some form of manufacturing activities related to support aircraft operations. This move is in light of an overcrowding aviation service industry in countries such as Singapore, according to the RBTS.

According to RBTS, a few companies have already expressed their interest to make Brunei their base in the region to develop their services and expertise in forms of partnerships.

This will allow Brunei to reap benefits with foreign partnerships attracting and encouraging investment in the country. The RBTS also hopes that, through these partnerships it would upgrade local technical know-how and provide employment opportunities, allowing RBTS to expand further into the region as well as internationally.

Towards forming concrete collaboration plans, some of the companies will soon be entering into discussions to establish a commercial framework together, according to the RBTS.

These potential companies possessing international recognition and capacity, are seriously expanding their opportunities and looking towards this region, showing interest particularly in Brunei.

The interest of these foreign companies towards Brunei is built upon cheaper production costs as well as leveraging on human capital, especially former military personnel who are well trained.

In the coming years, RBTS hopes to make the Ministry of Defence its strategic partner while RBTS, a government-owned company under the Prime Minister's Corporation continues to move forward.

With proper partnership and collaboration, RBTS hopes to have a role in managing services within the defence ministry such as operating and managing its maintenance centre in the future, to develop local maintenance capabilities.

Source: The Brunei Times