Some 28 local businesses who completed a six-month mentoring programme were feted in a ceremony at the Design and Technology Building, Anggerek Desa recently.
The programme under the second phase of the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) was implemented locally by Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) and Shell LiveWIRE Brunei (LiveWIRE Brunei).
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and DARe Daniel Leong, and Programme Director at SLiveWIRE Brunei Abdul Qawiem Haji Yacob presented the certificates.
The 28 participating businesses, represented by 33 mentees, underwent 10 business-learning modules beginning in January this year and was taught by a group of mentors comprising business owners, professionals and academia.
Participants also received individualised coaching sessions to produce their own business improvement plans designed to enhance the performance of their enterprises.
They also received the plan covering different areas including market opportunity, competitive advantage, management capabilities, financial understanding, innovation, and business sustainability. Director for Enterprise Development of DARe Norlela Suhailee, who is Brunei’s representative to ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs (ACCMSME), encouraged participants to continue their mentorship journey with DARe’s Brunei Mentors for
Entrepreneurs Network (BMEN), which actively hosts engagements for MSMEs to connect with its pool of over 80 mentors. Also in attendance at the graduation event were mentors, coaches, and other key stakeholders who assisted with AMEN’s implementation, including AMEN Brunei National Consultant Dr Sophiana Chua and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) member for Brunei Sabirin Othman.
Supported by the ACCMSME AMEN is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund to empower ASEAN’s MSMEs by providing training that will help them scale up and sustain their operations, provide jobs, and spur economic progress. – Lyna Mohamad
