Fostering collaboration across businesses, industries and borders strengthens competitiveness, resilience and promotes diversification as key drivers of sustainable economic growth, said Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Economy) Dato Seri Paduka Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, who is also Deputy Co-Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).
He said this during the third Enterprise Growth Connect (EGC) Forum and Networking event at The Empire Brunei’s Indera Samudra Grand Hall yesterday.
Hosted by the BEDB and themed ‘Unlocking Potential Through Collaboration’, the event saw 380 participants, including entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals across various industries, to explore how collaboration can drive innovation and sustainable business growth.
The forum opened with welcoming remarks from BEDB Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Leong.
The event featured two international keynote speakers: Co-Founder of Sometime by Asian Designers from Malaysia Stan Chooi, and CEO of PT Nava Sari Kreasi and Founder of Kebab Turki Baba Rafi from Indonesia Nilamsari. Chooi discussed how strategic collaboration enabled his company to expand from an online platform to multiple physical stores, catering to new markets and evolving consumer needs. Meanwhile, Nilamsari shared her journey of transforming her products into a global franchise with over 1,300 outlets, underscoring the benefits of franchising as a means for local businesses to scale internationally.
The forum also included a panel discussion with local entrepreneurs, moderated by Managing Director of Relentless Entertainment Amy Cheong. Panellists included Founder of OMNI Sports International Sdn Bhd Kenneth Han and Founder of BruHaHa Comedy Productions Zainal Bostaman, who discussed the role of BEDB’s programmes in supporting their businesses.
They reflected on their experiences with BEDB initiatives such as the Elevate and Accelerate programmes, which provide access to mentorship and industry resources, helping local entrepreneurs thrive.
One attendee remarked, “The insights shared by the speakers were truly inspiring. Learning how collaboration can drive market expansion has given me new ideas for scaling my business locally and abroad.”
The event concluded with a networking lunch, allowing attendees to connect, exchange insights and explore potential collaborations. – Fadley Faisal
