| Azlan Othman |
THE key issues regarding the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including financing and market access that had been discussed at the recent World Café series organised by the Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPMB), were shared yesterday during an event to mark the over 50 years of establishment of the chamber.
At the World Café series, members of the business community had held interactive deliberations and shared views on the current challenges their businesses face and the support they need.
Sharing the outcome of the World Café series discussions was a member of the local business community Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Mohd Ali.
In his presentation on ‘DPPMB Business Advocacy’, he said the chamber has recommended to the relevant government agencies for establishing joint investment between the public and private sectors to penetrate overseas markets; creating crowd funding, adopting of credit guarantee cooperation, launching a SME bank, and to provide report on government loans taken by business people.
On foreign direct investment issue, DPPMB recommended to identify and focus on high value FDIs, address non-tariff issues and government requirements and get the country’s laboratories recognised worldwide, he said.
DPPMB also suggested that government projects worth more than $20 million must use local services and products, and restructuring of procurement policy to include local content and services and to empower SMEs to undertake national projects.
On SME development, DPPMB recommended creation of a chamber of commerce for the Ministry of Finance to sort out late payment issues, develop a local business development strategy, carry out national branding for the Sultanate, to know more about project proposals from the business community that are not getting proper response from relevant ministries, and get assistance from DARE (Darussalam Enterprise).
Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Mohd Ali delivering his presentation on DPPMB Business Advocacy.
Siti Zaleha binti Kiprawi talking on ‘Community-based Ecotourism’. – PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN
Nur Judy binti Abdullah during her presentation.
During the discussions, DPPMB also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist SMEs in setting up regional networks.
Meanwhile, another member of the business community, Siti Zaleha binti Kiprawi, talked on ‘Community-based Ecotourism’, highlighting the ‘Eco-Village’.
The programme’s objectives were to protect local natural heritage and develop eco and food tourism industry to increase income of the local community. Activities at the event included producing video recipes on iCook Asia Brunei, highlighting traditional recipes to produce local cuisines, she said.
As a result, 40 new recipes were created involving 20 chefs with overwhelming response from the 300-strong visitors.
Siti Zaleha said she proposed to screen 100 videos on Brunei traditional and local cuisines to visitors, launch the ‘Cooking with Fruits, Flowers and Herbs’ cookbook, and hold a Brunei traditional cooking workshop that will be broadcast live via Facebook, which she said would be the first of its kind in Brunei.
Nur Judy binti Abdullah, another businesswoman, in her presentation titled ‘Public-Private Partnership’ said DPPMB is proud to uphold inclusive partnership.
She also stressed on the need for a strong network among stakeholders and key people in the global market to empower Brunei Malay businesses, for them to be able to contribute positively to Brunei’s economy.
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