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    Enjoying the market’s hustle and bustle

    Lyna Mohamad

    The two-day Pasar Rakyat 2022 at the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam last weekend attracted crowds looking for bargains and the enjoyment of an Indonesian-style traditional market atmosphere.

    Ambassador of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko marked the opening ceremony with the sounding of the gong.

    “The embassy has been steadfast in supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the Pasar Rakyat 2022 is part of the embassy’s tradition of providing a space for them,” he said.

    He emphasised that since the pandemic hit in 2020, the embassy has focussed on recovery and business. “Healing the wounds from the pandemic’s domino effect would call for not only a competitive edge, but also collaborative forces. Hence, we encourage local SMEs to take advantage of their compatibility with Indonesia,” he added.

    With over 64 million micro and SMEs spreading all over the archipelago, Dr Sujatmiko highlighted that there is ample room for local SMEs to find suitable partners to support growth and innovation.

    Ambassador of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko at the event. PHOTOS: LYNA MOHAMAD
    A performance at Pasar Rakyat 2022

    “The event is one avenue for the cause and provides a platform for local SMEs to test out goods they sourced from partners in Indonesia or locally-made products using Indonesian ingredients. It is a show of collaboration from Brunei and Indonesian SMEs,” he added.

    Pasar Rakyat was initiated in 2020 as a physical marketplace and went online in 2021. The Sultanate’s success in handling COVID-19 led to the return of the Pasar Rakyat 2022 to its original format.

    Some 48 SMEs participated at the market, offering traditional dishes such as pecel (assorted fresh vegetables with peanut sauce), rendang (meat stewed in coconut milk) and tiwul (sweet dried cassava with grated coconut) as well as contemporary street foods such as burgers, kebab, seblak (spicy and savoury wet crackers) and jasuke (corn kernels with condensed milk and cheese).

    The event also saw cultural performances on the main stage with traditional dances and folk music by the Indonesian community in the Sultanate as well as an airing of internal radio podcasts, playing Indonesian and traditional songs while giving prizes to visitors.

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