Hakim Hayat
Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) celebrated 10 female entrepreneurs who graduated from the bank’s BIBD SEED (Special Underprivileged Mothers Empowerment Entrepreneurship Development) programme yesterday.
They completed their training as part of the third cohort of the BIBD SEED programme which began in August 2020.
BIBD Chief Marketing Officer Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar said, “Evidence suggests that empowering women can have a beneficial impact on their families, communities and the country as a whole. As a Partner in Progress, the bank is committed to supporting the nation, to support the less fortunate, to give opportunities and empower those who may not be blessed with the same opportunities.”
Hajah Nurul Akmar said the participants were not only taught marketing strategies but also skills in business management, cost and packaging. “The exposure to industry experts such as Fashion Designers Alliance with the help from DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) also gave insights to understand industry needs and challenges. This is one of BIBD’s efforts to ensure the graduates will be ready and in a way can weather any challengers, becoming proactive and innovative entrepreneurs in their respective business.”
BIBD Deputy Managing Director Hajah Noraini binti Haji Sulaiman handed over certificates to the graduates at Centre for Excellence and Empowerment at the PGGMB (Brunei Malay Teachers Association) Building in the capital.
The cohort includes four entrepreneurs from the creative industries and the remaining six entrepreneurs from the food and beverage industry. They completed the four phases of the programme.
BIBD arranged training workshops focussed on entrepreneurship skills, practical skills and product development. They also participated in showcases and marketplaces to gain practical experience in interacting with customers.
