ISSN 1608-4977 BERITA WBC No.5 Jan-June 2011

Join Us in Celebrating WBC 10th Anniversary 2000-2010

HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS The President and members joined in to congratulate Dyg Norhayati Bakar, Vice President I on being conferred the national medal by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to mark his 64th birthday, for her remarkable achievements using ‘jambo’ in promoting Brunei Darussalam round the world. Dyg Norhayati is Brunei’s very own explorer and adventurer. She first made headlines when she and her team successfully lead an expedition to scale Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa.

23 February 2011 BRUNEI NATIONAL DAY 2011WBC members Hjh Mordiah, Rosnani, Hjh Kamariah, Hjh Rohaya, Hjh Masnah, Monazawani, Nurul Syafiqah joined members of the National Chamber of Commerce & Industry Brunei Darussalam (DPPMB) in the march pass parade at Taman Sir Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien.

4 March 2011 WBC 10th ANNIVERSARY

A thanksgiving ceremony was held on 4 March 2011 at 230pm at HADFA Recreational Park and attended by Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah, WBC President and 21 members. The highlight of the event was a talk by Norhayati Bakar, WBC Vice President II and Brunei’s own woman explorer and adventurer.

WBC was launched on 21 June 2000 at the Closing Ceremony of the 5th APEC Women Leaders Meeting held from 17-21 June 2000 in Bandar Seri Begawan. It was hosted by the Council of Women led by its President Datin Hjh Edah Hj Mohd Noor. Since then WBC has been active in promoting and elevating Brunei women entrepreneurs in the regional and international fora including APEC, BIMP-EAGA, ASEAN and WBC is an affiliate of the National Chamber of Commerce & Industry Brunei Darussalam (DPPMB). WBC works closely with various government agencies and private organisations especially in our continuous commitment towards women economic empowerment

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and among its main achievements has been maintaining a showcase in the Kg Ayer Tourism and Cultural Gallery, the Youth Entrepreneurs Skills Scheme and Social Enterprise initiative.

8 March 2011 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2011

The Australian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam hosted a reception at 7pm, at the High Commissioner’s residence, in honour of a visiting Australian-Muslim lawyer, human rights advocate and author, Mrs Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Muslim Palestinian and Egyptian heritage. She presented a talk on ‘Is Islam a Platform for change? : An Australian Muslim women perspective’. Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah, Hjh Mordiah, Rosnani, Hjh Mariah, Hj Maymon, Hjh Sopiah and Bibi Noorhati attended the function.

12 March 2011 MEETING WITH UN WOMENThe Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports hosted a meeting with UN women. WBC was represented by Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah, Hjh Mordiah and Norhayati

17 March 2011 HIS MAJESTY’S VISIT TO HADFA RECREATIONAL PARK Ms Hjh Halus Hj Karim, owner of HADFA Recreational Park and a WBC member was honoured with a visit by His Majesty he Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam. She was joined by other WBC members in welcoming the Royal Guest.

12-14 April 2011 BIMP-EAGA 11TH CLUSTER MEETING ON SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT & SMED/NRD CONVERGENCE MEETING The meeting hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources was held Rizqun Hotel. The meeting discussed the trade development and progress of BIMP-EAGA growth area including issues on BIMP-EAGA long-term vision and the establishment of BIMP-EAGA Food Basket for ASEAN and the rest of Asia and the Premier Ecotourism Destination as contained in

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the BIMP-EAGA SMED Cluster Action Plan 2011. WBC was represented by Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah.

16-17 May 2011 SIMPOSIUM HARI KELUARGA The Symposium was organised by the Community Development Department to mark International Family Day 2011, and held at Sumbangsih Bahagia.Its aim was to increase the public awareness on the need to strengthen family institutions to avoid family problems or other social ills. The programme was to prevent or lessen family problems among our community. Hjh Rohaya, Dk Rokiah represented WBC.

12 May 2011 WELCOMING DINNER THE Brunei-China Friendship Association hosted a Welcoming Dinner at the Royal Berkshire, Royal Polo and Riding Club in honour of H.E. Mr Ma Biao, the Governor of People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guangxi and delegation who were visiting Brunei Darussalam. This year is the 20th Anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China. WBC was represented by Datin Hjh Rokiah, Hjh Mordiah and Rosnani.

29 May-3 June 2011 12TH PAN-COMMONWEALTH-INDIA SMALL BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMEThe forum is in the series of the institute capacity building initiatives, focusing on the development of competiveness among micro, small and medium enterprises. It was held in Bengluru, India with the theme Women as Agents of Change in Entrepreneurship Development and Export competitiveness.

This programme is in sync with both the theme for Commonwealth Day 2011 and the Secretariat unstinted commitment towards gender empowerment.

The forum provides women entrepreneurs with various information on policy and practices to develop women entrepreneurs in Commonwealth countries. It is also a platform for women entrepreneurs to voice their views on issues that are crucial towards developing their business as well as an opportunity to network and explore opportunities with other women entrepreneurs from participating Commonwealth countries. WBC was represented by Hj Mordiah and Hjh Maymon

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16-19 June 2011 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FAIR 2011The event was organised by Women’s Business Council and Elricco and held at ICC. It was opened by Datin Hjh Adina, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports who also launched the Women Entrepreneurs Awards 2012. The Welcoming Address was delivered by Datin Paduka Hjh Rokiah, WBC President.

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27 June 2011 COURTESTY CALL FROM NINGXIA DELEGATION

WBC members joined DPPMB in welcoming visitors from Ningxia China. On hand to welcome them was Mr Hj Razali, President National Chamber of Commerce & Industry Brunei Darussalam (DPPMB). The event was held at DPPMB Office. WBC was represented by Siti Khadijah, Dk Hamdiah, Hasiah, Hjh Halus and Rosnani.

29 June 2011 NATIONAL MAJLIS ISRAK MERAJ 1432WBC members adorning WBC’s newest uniform proudly joined other guests at the National Majlis Israk Meraj 1432 at ICC.

©BERITA WBC is published by the Women’s Business Council-Brunei Darussalam. c/o RNCS Training Centre, Unit 2, Block C, Bgn Hj Lajim, Kiarong BE1318. Tel/Fax.2420772. email.wbc.bru@gmail.com. Editor. Nellie Sunny. Credits: Nellie, Rosnani, Hjh Mordiah, Pelita Brunei, Borneo Bulletin, Brunei Times.

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