AN ASEAN handicraft and food exhibition catered to local and foreign small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is currently being held at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah complex, aimed at promoting wider business opportunities for local and foreign entrepreneurs.
Visitors to the exhibition will be in for a treat as local and foreign products are displayed by SMEs from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei, showcasing various handicrafts, textiles, souvenirs, food and confectionaries.
Brunei Local entrepreneur, Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim said the exhibition also encourages SMEs to be more productive in marketing their products and enables them to be more competitive in their profession.
"Handiwork such as songkok and other crafts produced by residents from Kg Ayer creates more employment, strengthening the economy whilst developing the handicraft industry," said Zainal Abidin Hj Ibrahim.
He also thanked the authorities for taking the time and consideration in providing SMEs with low cost rental space and enabling them to conduct their business at a location where most visitors will flock.
Owner of a handicraft business, Hasni Hj Hashim said that some entrepreneurs must learn to provide other forms of revenue for their country through their craft-making abilities. "Opportunities such as low rental rates at the complex provides business advantages for us (vendors) to give affordable prices on local products such as batik and kain jongsarat," she said.
"Our local SMEs have done a good job at producing local products, this comes to show that Bruneians are capable of producing quality products, " said Hjh Rohana Hj Rahim, who was a visitor to the exhibition yesterday.
She said that prices for products were affordable for the local public and tourists as she was informed by vendors that various items on display were given discounts during the special two-week expo.
Mohd Kamil Hj Latip, a youth who was informed of the exhibition by a friend, was captivated with the various products produced by Brunei's craftsmen. "Items such as songkok and kain jongsarat were amongst the local products I was amazed with. I am truly amazed by the quality, design and workmanship of Bruneian handicraft," he said.
A customer checking out the local handicraft on display, Hj Bungsu Hj Yahya said that such events like these will help further boost the local handicraft industry in promoting and giving exposure to local-made products through exhibitions and events.
"The batik and kain jongsarat are some of the products that were on sale, displaying one-of-a-kind designs that will attract locals as well as tourists to buy local-made products," said Hj Bungsu.
The senior citizen also hoped that more exhibitions will be organised by the authorities to help preserve the culture and heritage of Brunei, especially in the area of producing quality handicraft products by the locals.
The ASEAN food and handicraft exhibition began on July 25 and will end on August 5, organised by the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah complex in support of local and foreign SMEs.
Twelve booths showcasing the best of Southeast Asia's products will be open to the public from 4pm to 10pm at the atrium of the shopping complex. (KAY1)
The Brunei Times
http://www.bt.com.bn/home_news/2009/07/27/local_foreign_products_at_asean_exhibition
