The Brunei MSME Festival recently kicked-off at Bridex, showcasing products and services from local businesses as well as providing an avenue to connect with industry experts and potential buyers and partners.
With the theme ‘DARe to Innovate: Growth & Resilience through Innovation’, the festival gathers more than 200 vendors in the fields of food & beverages, manufacturing, retail, fashion & textile, beauty & healthcare and other services.
The four-day event which runs until 19 March also highlights various activities from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including exhibitions, seminars and business matching sessions.
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
On the first day of the festival, a conference was held, gathering experts from the public and private sectors as well as academia to discuss how businesses, particularly MSMEs, can leverage innovation to scale and build resilience.
Meanwhile, the Business Matching sessions initiated business-to-business (B2B) meetings with both local and international buyers and distributors from Singapore, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates.
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
In his welcoming remarks, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy said that this year’s festival comes with far more benefits for MSMEs than just showcasing their products and services.
“It also serves as a great platform to recreate and seize greater business opportunities, reconnect with lost customers, interact with new potential buyers and vendors, and expand the market reach not only domestically but also internationally,” said Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah
The minister who is also the Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) added that the critical importance of nurturing business growth for economic progress warrants collaboration more effectively between the government and multi-level efforts ecosystem builders as well as the private sector including trade and business associations to creating an enabling environment for businesses to flourish and grow.
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
“With the right policy and regulatory environment for MSMEs to thrive, the provision of effective and relevant support programs and infrastructure, effective business advisory and networking opportunities, as well as the right business mindset, I am confident that we will be able to bring our MSMEs to the forefront of our economic development in a more significant and
meaningful manner,” said the minister.
On his part, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BEDB) and DARe Daniel Leong said that the festival serves as a platform for identifying local products and services that have the potential to be developed further, either for export or for import substitution, while promoting entrepreneurial culture among locals and raising awareness of what DARe can offer to support MSME development in the country.
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
“With this opportunity, I hope to see an encouraging number of MSMEs taking part in these sessions, establish meaningful connections and uncover new opportunities that could potentially bring m | utual benefits,” said the acting chief executive officer.
The Brunei MSME Festival is a testament to the country’s commitment to
supporting MSMEs to grow and innovate.
For more information about the Brunei MSME Festival, visit their social media channels on Facebook and Instagram @bruneimsmefestival.
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
Image: Iqbal Dato Selamat
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
