Izah Azahari
Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) celebrated five female entrepreneurs, who completed the Special Entrepreneurial Empowerment and Development Scheme (BIBD SEED) as part of the fourth cohort of the programme, which began in August 2021.
Assistant State Mufti (Buhuth) at the State Mufti’s Office cum Chairman of BIBD Shariah Advisory Body Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mazanan bin Haji Yusof presented certificates to the graduates.
BIBD Chief Marketing Officer Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar said, “Evidence shows that empowering women can have a positive impact on their families, the community and the country as a whole. BIBD has always believed in empowerment through entrepreneurship and the BIBD SEED programme is a manifestation of this belief and our commitment as a partner in progress, as we seek to uplift and upskill these women into successful, sustainable business owners who can make an impact in their personal lives and give back to the nation.”
She added, “We are extremely proud of our BIBD SEED women and pray that they will continue to enjoy success and for their business to grow further and contribute to the entrepreneurship ecosystem.”
Three of the women pursued their passion in the food and beverage industry, while the remaining two are business owners in the service industry. These female entrepreneurs comprise of underprivileged groups under the Islamic Da’wah Centre, Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA); Brunei Islamic Religious Council; the Community Development Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) as well as the Single Mothers Movement Association.
All BIBD SEED participants are sent for training workshops focussing on entrepreneurial skills, product development, practical business skills as well as branding and marketing.
Participants are also given the opportunity to participate in various pop-ups and marketplaces as a way of gaining practical experience in interacting with customers, and to begin building their customer base. Participants are also encouraged to make use of sustainable packaging for all their products as part of BIBD’s commitment to sustainability under the BIBD Sustainability Framework.
Hajah Nurul Akmar added, “Today we are not just celebrating the five successful female entrepreneurs, but we are also welcoming 14 new entrepreneurs into the programme.
Through their diligence and determination, Insya Allah, we will soon see them pursuing their passions and running their own businesses. Not only will they be given training, but Alhamdulillah, the previous cohorts of BIBD SEED have also been extremely generous in sharing their knowledge and experiences with the new cohort.
“Our SEED entrepreneurs will also be on-boarded into the SME360 ecosystem, with dedicated relationship managers to support them as they grow. This is all part of our efforts to ensure that our entrepreneurs succeed, not just in the programme, but once they complete the training,” she added.
To date, 41 female entrepreneurs have participated in the programme, with 27 qualifying for Zakat funding.
Meanwhile, 221 women have gone through the BIBD SEED boot camp, which focusses on the basics of entrepreneurship. Since the inception of the BIBD SEED programme, BND118,740 worth of Zakat funding has been disbursed and is hoped to catalyse their success.
Under BIBD’s Sustainability Framework and Roadmap, BIBD committed to business practices that support responsible entrepreneurship and inclusive social impact. This is aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the bank’s foundational belief in the Maqasid Syariah. The programme signifies BIBD’s commitment towards nation-building, not just as a financial institution, but also as a responsible corporate citizen.
