Following the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion of the Muara Container Terminal on Saturday, CPC Guangxi Committee Secretary and Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Guangxi Chairman Liu Ning said the project serves as “a pivotal gateway in the ASEAN-China cooperation, Guangxi has fully harnessed the institutional frameworks of the China-ASEAN Expo and the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor (BGEC) to deepen the friendly exchanges and bolster practical cooperation with Brunei. This strategic engagement has yielded significant accomplishments”.
The Muara Port, he believes, “stands as Brunei’s sole international deep-water port, serving as the nation’s most vital conduit for international trade. The evolution of the Port over the years serves as a compelling testament to the mutually beneficial cooperation that has flourished between Brunei and Guangxi”.
Since the establishment of Muara Port Company Sdn Bhd in 2017, a joint venture between the subsidiary of Brunei’s Ministry of Finance and Economy and Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group Co Ltd, “both parties have been dedicated to enhancing the port’s efficiency, capacity, and service comprehensively,” Liu Ning said, adding that, “Since the first direct container shipping route from Brunei to Qinzhou was established, the throughput at Muara Port has significantly increased, reaching 1.9103 million tonnes last year, an impressive 22.66 per cent growth. This achievement has positioned the port as the most efficient within the BIMP-EAGA and established it as a pivotal bridge for economic and trade cooperation between Brunei and China.”
The expansion of the terminal container, he said, “is poised to enable the port to accommodate larger vessels,” and “will significantly boost its competitiveness and operational efficiency within the region, establishing a robust foundation for its evolution into a key logistics hub in the BIMP-EAGA”.
Meanwhile, Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group Co Ltd Chairman Zhou Shaobo said that since the launch of the container shipping route, it has maintained stable operations, effectively enhanced Brunei’s international trade network and supporting economic and trade cooperation between China and Brunei.
He added, “We’ve accelerated the transformation of the Muara International Fish Landing, giving it the best berthing capacity and facilities in the BIMP-EAGA region. This upgrade significantly supports Brunei’s fisheries and cold chain logistics industries.”
To boost Muara Port’s capacity for larger vessels, he said, “We’ve worked closely with our Bruneian partners. After a year and a half of preparation, the expansion project has begun, with an investment of over BND400 million.”
He also said, “This is Muara Port’s first major expansion in 50 years. It’s a key step in boosting China-Brunei trade and the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor, marking a milestone for the port as a central hub in the BIMP-EAGA region and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.”
Meanwhile, China Communications Construction Group Co Ltd General Manager Wang Haihuai shared, “In July, with support from the Brunei government and the Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group Co Ltd, China Harbour Engineering Co won the Muara Container Terminal’s expansion project. Muara Port is Brunei’s only international deep-water port and is crucial for international trade.”
He added, “The expansion will greatly increase the capacity and efficiency of the container terminal, helping Muara Port becomes a regional shipping and transshipment hub. It’s a significant achievement for China and Brunei under the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative and the ongoing economic and trade cooperation.” – James Kon
