Rokiah Mahmud
DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) is pushing towards improving initiatives in enabling Brunei Darussalam’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow further, said DARe CEO Javed Ahmad.
“We have seen a lot of good Bruneian-made products that have high export potential and can go further,” he said during the launch of the Mini Brunei MSME Festival at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex yesterday.
In fulfilling DARe’s vision to turn enterprises into dynamic and resilient drivers of economic growth, the CEO said there is a need to improve processes, products and service quality, consistency and competitiveness to gain success to new markets.
He added, “Given the ongoing pandemic, our locals have been increasingly spending on locally-made products and we hope to see it continue; and to rely less on imported products.”
A total of 890 vendors are participating in an event split across four weeks. Each week will feature 20 vendors allocated at the outdoor and ground floor of Block C at the Yayasan Complex.
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Legislative Council members Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid @ Sabli bin Haji Arshad and Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii officiated the launch in their capacities as members of DARe’s Board of Directors.
Javed said the festival, with the objective of increasing “exposure of MSMEs to the public by giving opportunities on a national scale”, was scheduled to be held last March, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
This year’s festival will be held in a series of mini events spread throughout the year, with the first one running throughout March 2021.
“It is also our hope that through this event, consumers can be encouraged to start their own business.
“We urge them to continue to do so by staying committed, persevere and resilient.
“DARe will continue to assess the business landscape in an increasingly globalised economy especially not that we have entered a different, pandemic-affected world,” he said.
DARe will be hosting the Mini Brunei MSME Festival in each district throughout the year.