| Danial Norjidi |
HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office officiated the opening ceremony of the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo and the Brunei China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) Exhibition 2017, yesterday.
Held at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre in Jerudong, this year’s MSME Innovation Conference and Expo theme is ‘Made in Brunei Market Fair’.
Upon arrival at the BRIDEX Hall, His Royal Highness was greeted by Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Permanent Secretary (Industry) at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Also present at the ceremony were Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; Datu Haji Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto, the Philippines Signing Minister for BIMP-EAGA and Secretary and Chair of the Mindanao Development Authority, the Philippines; Datuk Haji Mohd Arifin bin Mohd Arif, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance; and Dato Paduka Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Dato Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II.
The Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat was read by YB Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office launching the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo and the Brunei China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) Exhibition 2017. Also seen in the photo is Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office
His Royal Highness touring the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo and Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017
His Royal Highness signing a plaque at the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo and Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI
His Royal Highness in a group photo with the local vendors participating in the expo
After the launching ceremony, His Royal Highness also launched the businessBN website and the Made in Brunei initiative before proceeding to tour the exhibition.
The businessBN website is a portal which provides a whole-of-government service connecting the local and international business community as well as aspiring entrepreneurs to all the latest information on government services related to doing business in Brunei Darussalam.
The Made in Brunei initiative is an initiative by DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) which aims to create awareness locally and internationally that Brunei produces high quality products.
The 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo is being held from May 6-8 (Saturday to Monday) BRIDEX Halls 1 and 2. The event is open to the public, starting from 9am till 9pm each day.
The expo provides a platform for local Bruneian companies to showcase their products and services. About 200 local MSMEs are participating in the Made in Brunei Market Fair, which include Halal consumables such as food, baked goods and pharmaceuticals. The ICT sector, cosmetics, fashion and clothing as well as the various local MSMEs providing services such as publishing, management and even inbound tours and travel are also taking part.
In addition, 31 MPK (village consultative councils) from all four districts are showcasing their products from the One Village, One Product initiative at the event, which range from traditional crafts and treats. Several companies from Sabah, Sarawak, Vietnam and Indonesia are also set to participate in the expo.
The Made in Brunei Market Fair provides the opportunity for local MSMEs to shine through with their best marketing and packaging strategies and showcase their products so that consumers and buyers will choose to support local businesses. The market fair also provides the opportunity for potential investors and distributors that attend this fair to meet their future partners and help local enterprises grow and increase their overseas export potential.
Companies from China are also currently showcasing their products as part of the Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017, which is being held in conjunction with the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo. The Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017 provides a platform for meaningful links to be made, so that successful trade, business and investment outcomes can be pursued later in September 2017 in Nanning, at the 14th CAEXPO where Brunei Darussalam is the country of honour.
The Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017 hopes to promote Brunei Darussalam’s role as the country of honour at a national level and to encourage the participation of local MSMEs in the country at the 14th CAEXPO.
Around 100 companies from China are present to showcase their products. In a press release, it is highlighted that “their strong presence in the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo and the Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017 will encourage business matching and networking among the local MSMEs and the businesses from China and promote closer cooperation in trade, business and investment between Brunei Darussalam and China.”
The 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo and the Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition 2017 demonstrate the ongoing efforts of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, to transform the business ecosystem in Brunei.
Local entrepreneurs are encouraged to be more competitive and successful and seize not only domestic but also international opportunities. A number of initiatives have thus been introduced by the government to enhance the business environment through infrastructural and regulatory changes to ensure a pro-business and solid private sector – including the revamped portal businessBN and the Made in Brunei initiative.
Meanwhile, the official opening for the MSME Innovation Conference and Expo, which carries the theme ‘Enabling MSMEs’ Access to the Digital Economy’, was held yesterday afternoon, and featured prominent and successful entrepreneurs from the region invited to talk about how small enterprises can leverage on e-commerce and the vast opportunities it presents to further develop their businesses.
The Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EIDPMO) and DARe in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Guangxi Autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China were the co-organisers of the event.
For more information on the Made in Brunei Market Fair, members of the public can visit the website www.mibmf.gov.bn or follow the Instagram account @eidpmo.bn. Interested members of the public can find information on participating in future trade expos by calling 2384488 ext 1050.
The post Crown Prince officiates launch of MSME conference & Brunei CAEXPO Exhibition appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.