BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

FOUR entrepreneurs under the Village Consultative Council (MPK) will represent Brunei at the ASEAN Regional Expo on One Village One Product/ One Tambon One Product (OVOP/ OTOP) in Thailand in a bid to market their products to the world.

The entrepreneurs are accompanied by an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).

According to MoHA, the entrepreneurs represent each district across the sultanate. The trip is fully sponsored by Thailand’s ASEAN Secretariat for OVOP and organised by its Ministry of Interior.

The entrepreneurs will spend five days at Silapacheep Fair in Bangkok and another three days at Cheiangmai Province Fang District.

Special Duties Officer, Hj Haizul Rizal Hj Yahya, who is also the head of the delegation, told The Brunei Times that the exhibition in Thailand is a good opportunity for local entrepreneurs to broaden their networks.

They will also be able to learn how to effectively market their products internationally.

Hj Haizul said there will be around 50 entrepreneurs exhibiting their products at Cheiangmai and over 1,000 participants at the expo Silapacheep Fair in Bangkok.

“At the expo, the participants will get experience on how products are manufactured. They will also learn how to enhance the quality of their products from interacting with the entrepreneurs from other ASEAN countries,” he said.

Hj Haizul hoped the entrepreneurs would exchange ideas in terms of innovations and creativity with their peers from the region to aid the development of their products.

Abu Samah Hj Damit – a craftsman from MPK Kg Sengkurong – will be showcasing his walking sticks made from recycled materials.

The 59-year-old said that his products are “one of a kind”.

“My walking canes are made from recycled materials such as used Easi cards and other plastic materials, crafted in my home garage,” said the retired government official from the Public Works Department.

“My walking sticks are unique because they are different from canes made of wood,” said Abu Samah who hoped that her products will receive international recognition.

Representative from the Tutong district, Hjh Hasnah Hj Ibrahim, who is a member of the MPK Kg Tanjong Maya, hoped to meet other entrepreneurs from ASEAN countries to help market and develop her virgin coconut oil product.

“We have our own company called Wira Bina registered under MoHA in 2011,” said the 62-year-old.

“I want to learn how to make our products unique compared to other virgin oils,” she said.

Craftsman Hensona Anak Munah from MPK Kg Labi 2 hoped to market Brunei’s traditional crafts to the international market.

Among the products which Hensona will be exhibiting are Nyiru (sieve) and Umpok (plastic food covers).

“My products are well-known at the Mendaram Besar Long House in Labi. We receive orders from individuals and government officials, especially our Kiap (fan),” said the 36-year-old.

“It is the first time I will be in Thailand and I hope that I can get more orders from other international companies during the exhibition,” said Hensona.

A representative from MPK Kg Senukoh in the Temburong district, Rambai Hj Damit, hoped the experience will help her improve the packaging of her Mee Kuning (noodles).

“I want to learn how other entrepreneurs make their packaging attractive and beautiful,” she said.

Rambai said that the noodles provide their village with a revenue of up to $1,000 a month as they are supplying three local restaurants in Brunei.

The Brunei Times