Identify the government agencies that assist SMEs and the programmes offered
Brunei Industry Development Authority (BINA)
FUNCTION
To facilitate the setting up of Small and Medium Enterprises
To provide and manage industrial sites which are critical to the establishments of the industries
To coordinate with other government agencies for various approval in setting up of the business infrastructure such as pioneer status, certification, tax exemption, labour licenses, miscellaneous licenses, etc
To provide training and counseling for local entrepreneurs to gain and upgrades their knowledge in areas of enterprise management as well as technical capabilities
To support the information and development of cooperatives which has a big and important role to play in the industrial development process as can be seen in the neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore
Entrepreneurial Development Centre
On 2nd May 1996, His Majesty has consented to the transformation of Sinaut Agriculture Training Centre as the Resource Centre under the administration of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources
On July 2006, the name of the centre has been changed to the Entrepreneurial Development Centre, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources taking into consideration its main role in facilitating the growth and development of SME in the country
It scope of activities includes providing entrepreneurial training, incubation programme, SME financial support scheme, international relations and providing relevant information to SMEs
LiveWire Programme
LiveWire Brunei is a Brunei Shell Petroleum Company’s sponsored community programme created for the purpose of increasing the interest of Bruneians in Business and assists them in realizing their business ideas
It will help by getting them to start thinking the business idea with the first aim of creating a formal, documented plan and progress into business start-up
It is an international programme designed to train registered participants between ages 18-30 The programme includes courses in personal development, trade knowledge, basic skills in starting and running a small business
First categoryProvide information for those who want to know
about starting and running a small
business
Second categoryProvide a basic
training in starting and running a
business
Fourth categoryThe ‘Award’ competition held yearly to recognise successful participants
Third categoryProvide advice and
mentoring
Sekolah Perdagangan (Business School)
Sekolah Perdagangan runs the Business Incubator Programme (BIP) to train graduates under the governing body, the Brunei Darussalam Vocational and Technical Education Council (BDTVEC) who have acquired the skills and competences in various vocational and technical fields, wishing to become entrepreneurs
The programme, run by the Enterprise Training Division under the Department of Technical Education since September 2000, was incorporated into the business school in 2005. This is in line with the government’s desire to expand the small and medium sized enterprise (SMEs) sector
The school provides twelve incubation units for the participants to operate their enterprises from once they have completed their entrepreneurship training at the school, beyond which time they could still receive mentoring services
The iCentre
iCentre is an initiative by the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEBD) to support and develop the local SMEs in Brunei for start-ups and established companies in ICT industry
The concept for iCentre is based on an incubation model to assist those new companies to develop their innovative ideas from inception to realization (offices, conference rooms, meeting rooms, exhibition rooms, management guidance, technical expertise and mentoring)
The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB)
The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEBD) is committed to support local companies to grow their businesses beyond Brunei Darussalam
Several initiatives have been established with the objective to support local SMEs as the Local Enterprise Applications and Products (LEAP) program, to assist the SMEs as well as students and researchers in higher learning institutions in the development of new products or applications
Financial Assistance to SMEs
Export Refinancing Scheme (ERS)
Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources (MIPR) and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) launched the Export Refinancing Scheme(ERS) to help SMEs establish a strong global presence
Under this scheme, an SME can borrow a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $500,000
The new scheme provides exporters short-term financing before and after they make a delivery
The facilities are granted to companies registered and certified as an exporter
Financial Assistance to SMEs
Promising Local Enterprise Development Scheme (PLEADS)
Under Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), PLEADS targets established local companies for internationalization
They aim to enhance the capability & competitiveness of an existing business
They also assist the promising local enterprise to expand their business and venture abroad.
Financial Assistance to SMEs
Enterprise Facilitation Scheme (EFS)
Under BIBD, EFS grants SMEs financing up to a maximum amount of BND 5 million dollars to help your business on its way
EFS covers a wide range of activities, whether for financing the amount to purchase equipment, fund a project or contract, or increase working capital
This is open for SMEs which are at least 30% owned by Brunei citizens
The targeted industries are agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, tourism, etc
This has provided loans to 122 SMEs, totaling up to $42 million from 1999 to 2009
Financial Assistance to SMEs
Microcredit Financing Scheme
Under BIBD, this scheme enables the local SMEs to go further, allowing a maximum financing amount of BND 50,000
MFS caters for a wide range of industries, whether the business in under the industrial manufacturing sector or in consumer-based industries such as retail, food and beverage, or hospitality, the business is eligible to apply as long as it is 100% owned by Bruneians
This has provided $10 million worth of capital to 485 SMEs from 2001 to 2009
Financial Assistance to SMEs
Other banks
Personal Financing and Corporate Financing is also available at the other banks such as Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Baiduri Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Malayan Banking Bhd, Citibank and RHB Bank to assist SMEs improve their liquidity and financial capability