| Danial Norjidi |
THE 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo continued into its second day yesterday with the Made in Brunei Market Fair which features around 200 local MSMEs.
The expo is aimed at providing a platform for local companies to showcase their products and services at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre’s Halls 1 and 2 in Jerudong, where the event is being held.
The local MSMEs come from a wide range of sectors, including those of Halal consumables (food and pharmaceuticals) as well as those of ICT, cosmetics, fashion and various services such as management, inbound tours and travel.
Some 31 village consultative councils from the four districts are also showcasing their wares under the One Village, One Product initiative.
The Made in Brunei Market Fair gives local MSMEs the opportunity to utilise their best marketing and packaging strategies and to showcase their products, so that consumers and buyers will choose to support local.
The market fair also provides a chance for potential investors and distributors attending the fair to meet potential future partners and to help local enterprises grow and increase their overseas exports potential.
Speaking to the Bulletin yesterday was one of the participating vendors at the fair, Yadiy, who owns a popsicle ice-cream business called Kyna’s Tasty Treats.
“The experience of joining this fair has been really good,” he said.
“It’s been a surprise to see feedback from the visitors, and how much they are supporting the local companies.
The 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo continues into its third day today at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre in Jerudong. – DANIAL NORJIDI
“Even though we sold out, people kept coming and asking… We sold out yesterday and today.”
He shared that support from the organisers has been really good, adding, “We would love to be involved in more of this kind of events in the future.
“Hopefully, we will be invited again.”
Bibi Azlina, the co-owner of Hybrid.bn café, a business specialising in coffee, shared that taking part in the fair has been worthwhile, with a lot of interests from the visitors and customers.
“I like that the representatives from DARe and the EIDPMO have been going around talking to all the vendors and asking how business is doing, and if we have any problems that they can help us sort out.
“They have been very supportive.”
Rans Coffee is another of the Made in Brunei Market Fair’s participants and its owners, Ran and Feight, have also been enjoying the experience.
Asked how the response has been, Ran answered, “It’s kind of overwhelming.”
He added that they were hoping to help get more people to know about them by taking part in the event.
“This has been a good way to get ourselves out there,” he said.
One of the visitors to the fair yesterday was a graphic designer named Zul.
When asked for his thoughts on the event, he responded, “All the food looks good, and there are a lot of local products as well, which is a good thing for the country.”
He said that it is good to have events such as the Made in Brunei Market Fair to promote local products, and that it would also be good to have even more events like it “perhaps once every few months”.
Another visitor, a teacher named Bobby, commented, “I think it is well-organised. There is adequate parking and there are so many products.
“I think there is a whole range of products for people to look at and it is overall quite interesting.”
The Made in Brunei Market Fair continues today, as the 1st MSME Innovation Conference and Expo goes into its third and final day, and will be open to the public from 9am to 9pm.
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