Brunei Local Business Development Program 2018
Date: 19 – 20 September 2018
Venue: Radisson Hotel Brunei
The Local Business Development Program is an initiative of Asia Inc Forum that encourages local SMEs to develop and grow as the backbone of the Brunei economy.
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Presenting the speakers from abroad:
Azman Manap
Founder, Azil Group, Singapore
Azman Manap is the founder of AZIL Engineers Pte Ltd and various other businesses. With no money, no business knowledge and experience, he successfully built a business that is not only profitable but continuously growing to become an established company in the construction industry in Singapore and Malaysia.
He has published two books on entrepreneurship. His first book in 2010 entitled “12 Lessons to Build a Profitable Business with Zero Capital” was well received and translated to Bahasa Malaysia. His second book “How to Grow Your Business: Enduring Setbacks and Crisis to Achieve Business Growth and Success” recognized his abilities to navigate the ups and downs of building a successful business.
Born and raised in Singapore, Azman was a school dropout. He has come a long way since childhood to overcome adversity to reach where he is now. Through perseverance and dedication over the last 25 years, he has developed his talents and abilities since he took night class during his Army days. Some who know his background would probably be amazed to know about his transformation.
Coming from the “School of Hard Knocks”, Azman is a firm believer of lifelong learning. An avid reader, he advocates continuous studies and upgrading oneself in order to have a fruitful life.
Azman and Norziah (Zee as he passionately calls her), his wife of more than fifteen years and a friend of more than twenty-four years, reside in Singapore with their three children: eldest son, Khairul Ilman, 20 years old; daughter Nur Amirah, 18 years old; and youngest son, Khairin Irfan, 15 years.
Zarah Juan
Founder, Zarah Juan (her own fashion brand) and Greenleaf Eco Bags, Philippines
Zarah Juan is a designer and creator of a world class fashion brand collection that brings out the creativity of Filipino artisans. Her creations of one of a kind shoes, bags and accessories are expertly weaved with traditional Filipino craftsmanship featuring contemporary designs to make each collection relevant and modern.
Her skills do not end in designing. With the ecosystem that Zarah Juan created, she is empowering the artisans to build sustainable livelihoods through her mentorship. Her efforts in this regard helped her country the Philippines gain regional and international acclaim in community development through the honours she received.
Zarah is an alumnae of the Swedish Institute in Stockholm, Sweden where she took up her Management Program. She is a faculty member at the SoFA Institute in Makati, Philippines and an active participant in programs run by the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines.
Her citations and awards include:
She is also the Founder of Green Life Eco Bags Inc.
Raj Kumar
CEO, Blue Ocean Strategy Institute, Malaysia
Raj Kumar is CEO of UCSI Blue Ocean Strategy Consulting at the Blue Ocean Strategy Institute based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and one of the region’s foremost minds on this business approach. He is a certified Consultant and Practitioner from the Blue Ocean Strategy-Initiative Centre of Professors Kim and Mauborgne, co-creators of Blue Ocean Strategy. Raj has conducted programs on Blue Ocean Strategy across North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, and has helped hundreds of SMEs, large companies, conglomerates and government-linked corporations successfully deploy and implement Blue Ocean Strategy.
Raj holds a Master of Science in Strategic Business from University of Portsmouth (UK), a Postgraduate Diploma from NCC Education (UK) where he graduated top of his class and a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Information Technology majoring in Project Management from University Tenaga Nasional (Malaysia).
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They will be joined by a diverse roster of role players from Brunei:
- Javed Ahmad, CEO, DARe
- Pierre Imhof, CEO, Baiduri Bank
- Dato Timothy Ong, Chairman, Asia Inc Forum
- Stuart Lee, Principal Trainer, Articulation Training Center
- Syarifah Safinatul Najah bte Malai Hj Abdul Hamid, Director of Operations, Tasconi’s International
- Keeran Janin, Founder, Avantist Watches
- Wong Kim Guan, Managing Director, Cuckoo
- Allen Shim, Presenter, Radio Television Brunei
- Yvonne Kuan, Managing Owner, Cedar Management Services
- Andrew Dy, GM Regional Programs, Asia Inc Forum
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