| Rokiah Mahmud |
THE One Village, One Product (1K1P) initiative aims to enhance the quality and packaging of Brunei’s village products to ensure that they can be marketed not just locally, but also to export markets.
The production of these products, in terms of their quality and quantity, also needs to be sustainable.
These aspects are reviewed by the 1K1P Council whose members are from the government and private sector.
This was explained by Minister of Home Affairs Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong in response to Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Haji Umarali bin Esung. He asked whether there is any planning done to further develop the cottage industries in villages which is seen as a key sector capable of contributing significantly to the development of the country.
“Strategic partners are needed to further enhance the products, and if this industry is well-managed and developed, it is able to provide employment opportunities for the youth in the country, as well as generate income and enhance the economy of the local community, thus helping realise the objectives of Brunei Vision 2035,” the minister said.
Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein, meanwhile, added that various efforts have been made by DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) to assist the industrial development of the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils.
These include a series of visits to the manufacturing premises, as well as holding talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI).
A range of matters have been raised by members of the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils on the marketability of the 1K1P products as a result of these discussions, including the production capacity of the operations and the quality of products produced.
The issue of packaging and labelling was also highlighted.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny suggested that one or two signature products from each district which hold high potential for the export market and growth through aggregation can be targetted.
“With aggregation, the manufacturing and production of the existing products will be more regulated and orderly, ensuring that the products are ready for the domestic and export markets,” he said.
A range of locally made products are being showcased in major supermarkets and high foot traffic locations in the country under DARe’s ‘Made in Brunei’ initiative, including the Brunei International Airport and hotels.