Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Berhad (BIBD) continues to strengthen its role in advancing inclusive entrepreneurship by supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across every stage of their business journey, including underserved segments.
BIBD systematically evaluates each business’s unique strengths and customer value proposition, enabling the Bank to better understand entrepreneurs and provide targeted, meaningful support.
This includes assessing the alignment of a company’s products and services with its aspirations, execution capabilities, delivery timelines and the level of effort required from customers, all benchmarked against market conditions.
“Before we talk about financing, we prefer to have a conversation to understand who you are as a business. From there we can take a more involved position in developing a strong foundation that supports future growth,” said Muhammad Isa Liew, Head of MSME Division at BIBD.
Muhammad Isa shared these insights during a fireside chat at the ‘Mapping the Way Forward: Inclusive Business in Brunei Darussalam Landscape Study – Kick-Off Event’, highlighting BIBD’s continued commitment to fostering an inclusive and resilient MSME ecosystem in the country.
The event marked the launch of a national study aimed at assessing the state of inclusive businesses and social enterprises in Brunei Darussalam. Initiated following engagements with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the study seeks to identify opportunities, evaluate the enabling ecosystem and develop strategic recommendations to advance inclusive business practices in support of Brunei Darussalam’s socio-economic development and Wawasan Brunei 2035.
BIBD SEED remains committed to empowering individuals from underprivileged backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on women and early-stage entrepreneurs. The programme provides training, resources and dedicated support to help participants build sustainable businesses and create lasting socio-economic impact.
In addition, Projek TUNAS, a retail platform created by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) in collaboration with BIBD, continues to uplift home-based and cottage businesses run by low-income individuals. The initiative provides a dedicated marketplace for entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their goods while building confidence and exposure.
BIBD also drives grassroots entrepreneurship through BIBD Connects, a corporate social responsibility initiative that provides market access and visibility for micro, small, cottage, start-up and young businesses. By complementing financial solutions with real market exposure, the initiative supports sustainable growth and strengthens community engagement.
Meanwhile, the BIBD Mega Karnival continues to serve as one of the largest platforms for MSMEs, start-ups and young businesses in Brunei Darussalam, offering opportunities to build brand recognition, foster collaboration and contribute to the nation’s inclusive and sustainable development goals.
These initiatives are further reinforced by BIBD’s core financial solutions, which provide MSMEs with accessible business banking and Shariah-compliant financing tailored to their growth needs. The BIBD MSME Account enables businesses to formalise operations, streamline transactions and establish credibility, while financing options such as working capital and asset financing support responsible expansion and long-term resilience.
The event brought together key stakeholders from government, industry and the financial sector to introduce the concept of inclusive business, gather insights and strengthen collaboration towards building a more inclusive and sustainable economic landscape.
It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation, the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), and ESCAP, with BIBD’s participation underscoring its commitment to national development priorities.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
