Local Product Fair In Temburong

Bangar - Twenty-two local companies are participating in a Local Product hair held at the Bumiputera Complex in Temburong.
The four-day fair is organised by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources with the aim was to enhance the domestic market and to strengthen the foundations of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs, and help them better compete in the business arena.
The fair was launched by the Acting TemburongDistrict Officer, Awang Haji Mohd Abdoh Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Salam.
In his speech, he said that one of the fair's objectives is to promote as well as to enhance the awareness of local products.
"It is important to give the opportunity for SMEs to showcase and market their products not only locally but also in the international market. With regard to this, the Temburong District Office will take initiatives to encourage the active participation of Temburong residents in small and medium enterprises, especially in promoting the local craft."
Such fairs are being held through out the country on a regular basis. The aims and objectives of such fairs are to market local products in supermarkets, minimarts and others in the country.
The fair acts as a stepping stone for local producers to showcase their products to would be buyers, suppliers and distributors not only domestically but also internationally.
A first time local producer, who is showcasing biscuit products, said she was happy that the government had given its utmost support in promoting as well as supporting local producers in the country. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Fair Showcases Temburong's Handicrafts

Bandar Seri Begawan - Temburong, known for its pristine forest, has a lot more to offer to both local and foreign tourists in terms of local handicrafts, Acting District Officer of Temburong Hj Abdoh Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Salam yesterday said.
In is opening remarks during the Local Products Fair 2007 in Temburong, the Acting District Officer said, Temburong, withits diverse culture, possesses unique qualities which can attract tourists to come and visit the area.
He stressed that Temburong does not only offer eco-tourism package but tourists will also be fascinated with the local products available in the district.
"For this reason, I believe that Temburong is capable of producing handicrafts of high quality. In light of this, the Temburong District Office will encourage involvement among locals in developing the Small and Medium Enterprises sector in Brunei and hopefully contribute to the economic activity in the country."
Hj Abdoh commended the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR), in organising the fair, which not only promotes local products but gives entrepreneurs an arena to market their products around the country and internationally.
A total of 22 local companies participated in the fair, which will run for four days at Phase II of the Bumiputera Building in Bangar, Temburong. The programme, organised by the Promotion and Facilitation Services Division under MIPR, aims to increase the marketing of local products in order for SMEs in the country to become more competitive.
The Promotion and Facilitation Services Division hopes that the Local Products Fair will promote and increase as well as introduce local products to the general public. It also acts as a step in marketing products by involving department stores, supermarkets and minimarkets within the country. Hopefully, such fairs will develop local SMEs and become the stepping stone in developing cooperation with other sectors in the country and promote product awareness.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Viable SMEs To Get Help Pursuing Exports

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) plans to extend three-year assistance to select small and medium enterprises in obtaining a' globally accepted food safety seal that will ease their entry to the world market.
"We are selecting SMEs for those who have the potential to export," said Tutie Safwati Omar, head of the ministry's certification section. Getting help in food safety certification "is good for our local SMEs, it opens up the market for them", she said in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.
Those selected will receive assistance for three years in getting the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification as well as in maintaining compliance with the system's set of safety guidelines.
"The HACCP recognition is a requirement nowadays for (importing) countries, our local food products need to be certified according to certain standards-to enable our SMEs to start exporting," Tutie Safwati said.
Currently there are at least four Brunei companies that got HACCP certification through MIPR's assistance programme offered since 2005. These are: PDS Meat Industry, PDS Abbatoir, Semaun Seafood Company and Goldenchick Company.
The ministry provides assistance in the first three years of attaining the certification. Help includes consultation and audit services from certification bodies.
Many companies are interested in obtaining the food safety seal but some have difficulty meeting the requirements while others find it costly to maintain the mandatory preconditions of HACCP certification, Tutie Safwati said.
HACCP is a systematic preventive way to food and pharmaceutical safety that relies on the identification of physical, chemical and biological hazards as means of prevention rather than finished product inspection.
There are plans of introducing next year another form of certification, the ISO 22000, a standard developed by the International Standards Organization that deals with food safety, the ministry official said.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

2007