Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) showcased a series of initiatives at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Berakas yesterday.
The showcase highlighted BIBD’s commitment to empowering communities and delivering an inclusive, long-term social impact. The celebration reaffirmed BIBD’s role in nation-building through programmes that support growth, empowerment, and educational access, reflecting the bank’s ongoing efforts to give back to the community and contribute to the nation’s development.
BIBD’s booth was honoured with a visit from 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, accompanied by members of the royal family.
Welcoming and briefing His Majesty was BIBD’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Junaidi bin Haji Masri, alongside members of the bank’s senior management and participants from the showcased programmes.
Among the initiatives highlighted was BIBD Advocating Life-Long Learning for Aspiring Future (ALAF), which currently supports over 340 students, including six who are pursuing higher education overseas in Australia, Malaysia, and Egypt.
BIBD ALAF is a long-running education-community programme dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of financial circumstances, have access to quality education and opportunities.
BIBD ALAF also provides essential support, including school supplies, transportation, and meals, alongside holistic development programmes that nurture spiritual and leadership growth, encourage participation in extr curricular activities, and build future-ready skills to help students thrive.
The BIBD Special Entrepreneurial Empowerment and Development (SEED) programme, which provides entrepreneurial training and incubation support to underprivileged women and is now in its sixth cohort, was also featured in the exhibition.
The award-winning programme supports 48 womenpreneurs, equipping them with business knowledge and skills to enhance their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the local economy, with the potential to explore international markets.
BIBD’s commitment to local entrepreneurship was further demonstrated through Projek Tunas, a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Designed as a shared marketplace for micro and small enterprises, the initiative brings together entrepreneurs from four clusters: BIBD SEED, the ministry’s One Village One Product (1K1P) programme, Yayasan-supported entrepreneurs, and the Konsortium Muallafpreneurs under the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The initiative exemplifies BIBD’s support for diverse segments of the community and reinforces its position as a financial partner that understands local aspirations.
Also highlighted at the BIBD booth was the JUZWAB x BIBD Project, in collaboration with the Zakat, Waqaf and Baitulmal Affairs Department.
The Zakat Empowerment Programme (PROPAZ) initiative provides technical and vocational training to asnaf and the underprivileged, equipping them with the skills needed to secure employment or start sustainable ventures. This is another key effort in BIBD’s mission to enable self-reliance and dignity through empowerment.
These initiatives collectively reflect BIBD’s dedication to supporting the country’s aspirations and upholding the principles of Maqasid Shariah, emphasising on social justice and the protection of community welfare.
They also represent the bank’s active contribution towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035, particularly in nurturing a dynamic and inclusive economy where no one is left behind. – Lyna Mohamad
