| Aziz Idris |
A TOTAL of 13 local businesses – comprising three government-linked companies (GLCs) and 10 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – will be representing Brunei Darussalam next week, at the 13th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning, China.
The Weekend Bulletin spoke to several companies yesterday, during a pre-departure briefing held at the Design and Technology Building in Kampong Anggerek Desa, conducted by officials from the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, which is one of the main organisers for the Bruneian delegation this year.
The International School Brunei (ISB) will be participating for the first time in the education sector at the expo, in hopes of promoting Brunei as a safe and conducive environment for education.
“Currently, there is low awareness in China, of the opportunities of studying in Brunei,” said Ang Beng Siong, the Business and Development Manager of ISB. “With this participation, we hope we can make our presence felt by tapping in the lucrative market that China has to offer”.
Meanwhile, Ghanim International Corporation, as the marketing agent for the bruneihalal brand, said that it would be looking for possible target markets in China, as well as other markets to carry its product range.
“Since these products will be on display and for sampling, Ghanim would like to obtain feedback, perception and acceptance levelling of bruneihalal food products in the Chinese market,” said a representative of the company.
Ang Beng Siong, the Business and Development Manager of International School Brunei; Nornezi Rozita binti Omar, the founder of Betye Beauty and Health Establishment; and Mona Salleh, Executive Manager of Seri Pakatan Sdn Bhd at the pre-departure briefing held at the Design and Technology Building in Kampong Anggerek Desa. – AZIZ IDRIS
The company is also hoping to expand its range and welcome products from various manufacturers sharing its respective values in product solutions and innovation.
“Our presence in the CAEXPO should also assist in gaining the latest insight on food trade, manufacturing and innovation, while establishing business-to-business contacts in the industry,” said the company representative. This should help immensely in understanding and gaining insight on how bruneihalal products can break into the mainland Chinese market as a whole”.
For Betye Beauty and Health Establishment, a company which specialises in locally-produced beauty and cosmetics, this will be its second consecutive year of participation at the CAEXPO.
Nornezi Rozita binti Omar, the founder of Betye, said that the company’s previous participation saw an encouraging amount of responses to its herbal and aromatic merchandise.
At the same time, she hoped for a similar response this year, in order to reach her goals in promoting and supplying local cosmetics to a bigger market in China, Japan and Korea.
And for Seri Pakatan Sdn Bhd, which is represented by Executive Manager, Mona Salleh, this will be its first participation at the CAEXPO. The food-manufacturing company specialises in ready-to-eat seafood crackers which is deemed popular among Asian markets.
“We hope to do networking with potential suppliers for our best-selling crackers and conduct our own market study during the expo,” said Mona. “We also know that the global demand for Halal products is on the rise, and we will bring other food prices from Pakatan to test out the market”.
Among the other local businesses taking part in the expo are the Jerudong International School, the Jerudong Park Medical Centre, Eman Enterprise, Amal Hadizat Enterprise, Seri Pakatan, the Federation of Brunei Malay Entrepreneurs and Sahamda Corporation Sdn Bhd.
The 13th CAEXPO will take place at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Nanning, China, from September 11 to 14, and this year’s theme for the Brunei Darussalam contingent is ‘Sustainable, Well-Being and Tranquility”.
Brunei Darussalam’s participation was made possible by collaborative efforts from the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.
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