Over 200 local businesses take part in four-day MSME Festival

| Lyna Mohamad |

MINISTER of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein yesterday launched Brunei’s biggest showcase of local products and services at the BRIDEX Hall in Jerudong.

Organised by DARe (Darussalam Enterprise), the MSME Festival features over 200 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), together with a conference on ‘Tapping New Markets: Exporting for Growth’ organised by Asia Inc Forum.

DARe CEO Javed Ahmad in his welcoming speech said that apart from providing a platform for Bruneian brands to gain market access and validation, while socialising business reforms and opportunities from the public and private sectors, the MSME Festival is also intended to inspire more Bruneians to start up or expand their own businesses.

“It is part of the efforts to help businesses to use technology in the aspect of their business operations, and the festival will also bring about a cashless agenda to expedite the industrial experience,” he said, adding that digitalisation in business would bring future benefits for both businesses and consumers, due to convenience and the efficiency of technology.

The MSME Festival began with a conference on the topic of exports delivered by local and foreign experts who included MATRADE Director (Sabah Regional Office) Noor Azian Romlan, and Mindplus Edu CEO Pengiran Mohd Khairi bin Pengiran Haji Metussin.

ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein looks at products of participating booths

Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry flips through a book published by Brunei Press. – PHOTOS: RAHWANI ZAHARI

The other speakers were Ghanim International Corporation CEO Dr Nur Rahman, 28Mall.com CEO Fione Tan, Nimanja CEO and founder Anderson Lim, Rotuku Group of Companies CEO and founder Azri Jumat, Christy Ng Shoes CEO and co-founder Christy Ng, and Advantist Watches CEO and founder Keeran Janin.

Over the following days, until March 31, the festival will see a line-up of activities, including sharing sessions with local businesses on seizing opportunities, transitioning from home-based businesses to storefront, balancing home and career, and branding and marketing.

The festival will also feature talks by Dynamik Technologies, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) and Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD), as well as a product demonstration session under DARe’s ‘Bruneian-Made’ supermarket shelf initiative activities.

Today, DARe will launch the first ‘Brunei Mentors for Entrepreneurs Network’, through which local entrepreneurs can contact registered professionals to seek business guidance and advice.

Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/over-200-local-businesses-take-part-in-four-day-msme-festival/