The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) continued its efforts to support the local business community by hosting the second instalment of its BEDB Engagement Series. The latest session, titled “Understanding F&B Industry Regulation”, took place on Thursday at the Design & Technology Building in Kg Anggerek Desa.
The event, organised by BEDB in collaboration with various government agencies supporting the development of Food & Beverage (F&B) industry provides a platform for business owners to gain a deeper understanding of the regulatory landscape and to ask questions directly to the representatives of the participating agencies.
During this session, participants received briefings from the participating agencies which included; Registry of Companies and Business Names Division (ROCBN), Ministry of Finance and Economy; Halal Food Control Division, Department of Syari’ah Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs; Agrifood and Services Division, Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism; Authority on Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi), Ministry of Development; Fire and Rescue Department, Ministry of Home Affairs; Municipality and District Division, Ministry of Home Affairs; Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA).
The day-long event was structured into two segments, with the morning session focusing on the essential services provided by the participating agencies. The event was also enhanced with a sharing session by founder of Noaz Creation, Norhijjahwati binti Bair, who shared her experiences and challenges in developing her business in Kontena Park an initiative under the BEDB to support F&B entrepreneurs.
The afternoon session continued with insights from founder of Dil’s Café, Shaikh Hj Fadilah bin Shaikh Hj Ahmad, who shared his journey from a home-based food business to a retail establishment. The program also included presentations on key topics including applying for Halal certification, transitioning from home-based to commercial operations, and fire safety regulations and others.
Attendees included representatives from government agencies, chambers of commerce, and MSMEs under the BEDB ecosystem, with over 170 local business owners participating.
“The session provided clear and practical information on the regulations we need to follow. The opportunity to hear directly from the agencies involved was particularly helpful in understanding the processes,” commented a participant from a local F&B business
A representative from Dewan Perniagaan & Perusahaan Melayu Brunei (DPPMB) shared, “The experience-sharing segments were especially insightful, as they highlighted the real challenges and solutions faced by F&B entrepreneurs in Brunei. It’s encouraging to see such support from BEDB and the various government bodies.”
While a small business owner attending the session remarked, “The presentations and Q&A sessions clarified a lot of the regulatory requirements we had questions about. The direct interaction with the agencies has made the whole process seem more accessible and less daunting.”
BEDB’s Engagement Series will continue with more sessions planned to address various sectors within Brunei’s business ecosystem. – ADIB NOOR
