(Bandar Seri Begawan, 17th Dec) Opportunities to develop the economic potential of Kuala Belait were the focus of discussion at the first roundtable dialogue held between the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and the Kuala Belait business community.
The event was held in the grand ballroom of the V Plaza Hotel, bringing together 30 key business representatives from the district to interact with the Brunei Economic Development Board and major government agencies.
The meeting was chaired by Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, the Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, as well as the Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board.
In his opening remarks, the minister stated that this roundtable meeting provides us with an opportunity to share ideas and demonstrates our commitment to working together to improve the business environment in Kuala Belait to unlock its economic potential.
During the dialogue, the Kuala Belait business community is optimistic about collaborating with the Brunei Economic Development Board and government agencies to tackle common challenges and explore opportunities for economic growth. Key suggestions include creating more affordable shared commercial spaces for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to operate jointly, potentially attracting residents and nearby visitors of the district.
Masrhiem Taufik, Managing Director of ESCA Martine & Engineering, stated that we know the population in Kuala Belait has spending power, especially with a large number of expatriates here. However, commercial space can be very limited and costly, so MSMEs often choose to rent residential units or operate businesses from home.
“We are eager to work with the Brunei Economic Development Board to explore various possibilities, such as converting underutilized buildings into commercial hubs for MSMEs.”
Dannie Azzura Hj Abu Basrah, who runs a real estate agency, expressed a similar view, emphasizing that businesses looking to open in Kuala Belait have always been interested.
But he stated that limited options are a barrier, and now that we have this dialogue channel, I believe it provides us with a new platform to collaborate with BEDB and the government to develop Kuala Belait to its full potential.
After the dialogue, a networking luncheon was held to further strengthen connections among the participants.
The event attracted major players from various industries, as well as representatives from business associations, with discussions focusing on addressing key challenges and identifying viable solutions to support the development of Kuala Belait's business ecosystem.
The Brunei Economic Development Board emphasized its commitment to creating a collaborative and innovative platform aimed at driving sustainable growth. The involvement of Kuala Belait is part of the board's broader initiative to engage in dialogue with different business sectors.
The board encourages businesses to seek support or raise questions via info@bedb.gov.bn.
The meeting was chaired by Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, the Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, as well as the Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board.
In his opening remarks, the minister stated that this roundtable meeting provides us with an opportunity to share ideas and demonstrates our commitment to working together to improve the business environment in Kuala Belait to unlock its economic potential.
During the dialogue, the Kuala Belait business community is optimistic about collaborating with the Brunei Economic Development Board and government agencies to tackle common challenges and explore opportunities for economic growth. Key suggestions include creating more affordable shared commercial spaces for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to operate jointly, potentially attracting residents and nearby visitors of the district.
Masrhiem Taufik, Managing Director of ESCA Martine & Engineering, stated that we know the population in Kuala Belait has spending power, especially with a large number of expatriates here. However, commercial space can be very limited and costly, so MSMEs often choose to rent residential units or operate businesses from home.
“We are eager to work with the Brunei Economic Development Board to explore various possibilities, such as converting underutilized buildings into commercial hubs for MSMEs.”
Dannie Azzura Hj Abu Basrah, who runs a real estate agency, expressed a similar view, emphasizing that businesses looking to open in Kuala Belait have always been interested.
But he stated that limited options are a barrier, and now that we have this dialogue channel, I believe it provides us with a new platform to collaborate with BEDB and the government to develop Kuala Belait to its full potential.
After the dialogue, a networking luncheon was held to further strengthen connections among the participants.
The event attracted major players from various industries, as well as representatives from business associations, with discussions focusing on addressing key challenges and identifying viable solutions to support the development of Kuala Belait's business ecosystem.
The Brunei Economic Development Board emphasized its commitment to creating a collaborative and innovative platform aimed at driving sustainable growth. The involvement of Kuala Belait is part of the board's broader initiative to engage in dialogue with different business sectors.
The board encourages businesses to seek support or raise questions via info@bedb.gov.bn.