This is the kind of news that I love to read in the morning. Hopefully this too.
Salaam.
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For anyone who is interested in Brunei economy and some ramblings of a mommy of two.
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Songs for the Soul by SAMI YUSUF
Who am I?
- ROGUE ECONOMIST
- A mommy of 2. Juggling time to be an economics student, a wife (to the most understanding husband in the world)and a mother to 2 beautiful girls. A strong believer in life-long learning. Hates hypocrisy, inefficiency and bureaucracy. Oh! and believes that there is ALWAYS an (economics)explanation behind EVERYthing, except maybe matters related to GOD. My email: jd_mfa@yahoo.co.uk
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Reading List
- Richard Heeks: Small Enterprise Development and the 'Dutch Disease' in a Small Economy: The Case of Brunei (22 Mar 2008)
- The Daily Brunei Resources: What Would Superman Do? (27 Feb 2008)
- Dubai Strategy: Past, Present, Future (22 Feb 2008)
- WSJ: In Tiny Sultanate, Days of Easy Living May Be Numbered (14 Feb 2008)
- ADB Report: Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditure Report - Asia and the Pacific (17 Dec 2007)
- World Bank: Doing Business in Brunei 2008 (5 Dec 2007)
- Dani Rodrik: Industrial Policy for the 21st Century (24 June 2007)
- Financial Times: Avoiding the Crush (24 June 2007)
- Forbes: The World's Best Amusement Parks (31 May 2007)
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- ASEAN Secretariat (22 Mar 2008)
- Singapore Land Authority (22 Mar 2008)
- Standard Chartered'Business Installment Loan (18 Mar 2008)
- NUS ASEANpreneurs (28 Feb 2008)
- Trading Standard Institute UK (30 Nov 2007)
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- CIA - World Factbook: Brunei (22 May 2007)
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6 comments:
I dunno about these two new projects whether such ideas may take off to a flying start or what, Mrs RE. Both 'Bruneian' partners are still embroiled in financial wranglings or tangles yet unsolved. The former is simply using local Bruneian 'get-rich quick investment' funds while the latter is masterminded by an Indonesian flamboyant entrepreneur with a few botched attempts to control some manufacturing sector industries in Lumut and Serasa plus a dismal failure in an equestrian centre venture in Jerudong, not to mention the Korean-Brunei JV for plastic lens factory?
As for photo-voltaic or Solar energy venture, Mitsubishi is notches ahead already with a recently-signed MoU to set up shop in Seria/Kuala Belait area...
Really? Oh Dear..
But then WHERE are the GOOD people?
The really successful local Bruneian entrepreneurs are the YOUNG BLOOD in the ICT Industry at the moment and BSP Contracting.
I am proud to tell you about an outstanding young 'industrialist' (if we can categorise him as such yet) who was recently awarded the MOST ENTERPRISING YOUTH of Brunei Darussalam 2008 title. This bloke in his 30s set up his own factory churning out 'Keropok MARIMIN' Halal-brand. And it tastes not bad, actually Mrs RE. Why not ask your Bruneian friends or students coming your way end of this Summer holidays from back home to bring lots crackers for your HARI RAYA in London or is it Manchester?
Oh by the way, Mrs RE, another 'Unsung Bruneian Business Hero' is Kampung Boy-made-good Haji Zainal (Kedayan Kati Mahar) who has in a short span of time successfully made his "Soto Rindu" restaurant chain a household name in the Brunei Muara District, including a neat corner outlet in the Giant hypermart on Lake Rimba.
I had known this young man (who's in his early 40s) since 1984 when he was only a Driver-cum-Messenger for the Japanese Embassy (in Ong Sum Ping, then). After office hours, he had then delved in smalltime business on the side selling fresh veggies and fruits, road stall soto, rent-tents, etc.
Hj Zainal's secret recipe for success, I guess, is his boyish charms, smiling face great PR with all clients and excellent customer service 24/7! I remember once I had rented a couple of his tents for immediate use and he had them delivered and erected at midnight!
He related to me an incident not too long ago when his fully-laden catering van overturned on the way to service a big Sunday wedding only a couple of hours before guests were to be served. But without further ado, Hj Zainal drove back to his small home-based HQ and rushed new delivery of lunch dishes in no time at all! A classic example of the highest professional service standard and prompt speedy delivery to meet clients' greatest of expectations.. What a service!:)
If ever I bumped into him again, I would strongly recommend him to open Soto Rindu branches in Seria, Kuala Belait, Tutong and Temburong. In fact with his old-time Japanese connection, Hj Zainal should have already contemplated to open up an overseas 'franchise' in Tokyo or even London, for that matter.
Of course, as people always say: "Behind a successful man, there's a woman" and Hj Zainal's wife who helps him run their family business is the backbone of "Soto Rindu".
One more hardworking and most successful local Bruneian entrepreneur in my top 3 list is none other than Hj Awg Abd Rahman bin Hj Metassim, the Managing Partner of the "Malar Setia" distributor of consummables to all stores and supermarkets throughout the nation with brand-name products like Coke, Danone, etc.
This humble down-to-earth Mr Nice Guy (with "inda tanggal songkok" trademark!) used to help his late father butchering and selling meat in the old Pasar downtown until transfer to Gadong Wet Market when he was still schooling. Now Hj Abd Rahman is into other businesses e.g. real estate development, etc.
Now, Mrs RE, I would really love to provoke your inner deep intellectual thoughts and wise, knowledgeable opinions on the STATUS QUO of COOPERATIVES in Brunei Darussalam. What am I getting at? You tell me... do you reckon that Cooperative Societies or businesses are one of the most integral catalysts in the economic development of any nation state?
As an uneducated person, I firmly believe that Japan, the US, Britain and nearer to home, our ASEAN neighbour Malaysia, rapidly develop in their economic progress due to the fundamental concept of Cooperatives which had mushroomed during the post World War II period. I pose this question to you, Mrs RE, why are cooperatives so slow to blossom in our own backyard in the Abode of Peace?
With the exception of the most established PGGMB (Brunei Malay Teachers' Federation) and perhaps Tasamul Lumapas to a certain extent (but lately slackening), the rest of tens more (a few hundred already?)Cooperatives registered under the Brunei Industry Development Authority (BINA) of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources seem to be going nowhere! KOKAMI is the latest to have made headlines with 'sensational' projects but whether their management is sound enough remains to be seen. And I can't help sympathising with the National Cooperative Council under the stewardship of the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Hj Dani (which seems to have been overshadowed by KOKAMI in terms of publicity and memberships). Is that good or bad?
Why can't UBD (University Brunei Darussalam) try to butt in and give these Bruneian cooperatives a 'shot in the arm', so to speak. I did voice out a blunt suggestion to the former Vice Chancellor of UBD Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Duraman to simply extend an invitation to the "Father of the Malaysian Cooperative Movement", Royal Professor Ungku Aziz (a strongman of ANGKASA - an umbrella body for all cooperatives in M'sia) to impart his vast expert knowledge on this particular issue. In fact, if the good old Prof were to come to Brunei, his much more powerful Central Bank (Bank Negara Malaysia) Governor daughter, Tan Sri Dato' Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, may tag along behind her dad. That would have a 'Double Whammy' effect for the Bruneian audience to be able to gain such invaluable insights from two of the region's (or the world's even) economic greats of our day, Mrs RE, wouldn't you think so?
My point is more should be done to encourage Bruneian cooperatives to flourish as a crucial move in the economic diversification plans of our beloved country. Well, you are an economic expert, Mrs RE, so please enlighten us on this grey area of Cooperative development.
If we were to relate this subject matter to our MIB Culture, Bruneians are supposed to be well-known for our "Adat memucang-mucang atau bergotong royong sejak zaman berzaman". No reason why cooperatives can't work, right?
I join Rano (ranoadidas.com) in congratulating well-established Bruneian entrepreneurs as below:
"Congrats to the Entrepreneurs of Brunei. Saturday, 30 August 2008 @ 11:30[GMT +8]
Brunei’s entrepreneurs honoured. Last night, 27 entrepreneurs were awarded for their accomplishment in the commerce at the inaugural Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) 2008 at Rizqun Hotel.
Pehin Lau Ah Kok. the founder of Hua Ho was given the award for the “legendary entrepreneur” . Dato Paduka Hj Idris, the founder and CEO of Arkitek Idris, received “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award while Pehin Goh bagged the “Special Acheivement Award”. Norizmah Hj Morshidi (picture inset: taken from TBT) earned herself the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. She is the Director of Ideal Food Industries Sdn Bhd.
Two awards were also given international bank HSBC and security solutions provide G4S Security Services for displaying the best results in the field of social and corporate responsibility (CSR).
The Young Entrepreneur Award went to Goh Kiat Chun also famously known as Wu Chun, the founder of Fitness Zone. Source: The Brunei Times."
Obviously, my top three personal choices had not made the cut yet. Pehin Lau is indeed the most worthy recipient and a great example of rags to riches story. Pehin 'Ah Kok' started peddling goods as a Chinese immigrant to Brunei on foot when he first came to the Abode of Peace decades ago without any capital at all ("sehelai sepinggang"). Gradually, he cycled, then used the "Padian" boat in the good old days to serve Bruneian customers both on land and in the "Kampong Aying". Today, he is a legendary business icon with Hua Ho retail stores chain and local farm products under his own belt... :) Young entrepreneurs should emulate his work ethics!;)
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