Brunei Darussalam is one of eight countries that has kick-started the first wave of Shell LiveWIRE ‘Let’s Go Trade’ (LGT) for young entrepreneurs, supported by Shell LiveWIRE programmes worldwide, to embark on international trade visits that will potentially open up new markets and accelerate innovation within their businesses.
Brunei was represented by Iffah Billah binti Haji Junaidi, Director of RAB Global Green Sdn Bhd, BFB Agrotechnology Company and Tropica Solar Photovoltaic Company, and Mohammad Qamarul Hazimi bin Dato Paduka Haji Said, owner of Digital Indesign.
LiveWIRE Brunei Chairman and Head of SCM at Brunei Shell Petroleum, Hajah Rosita binti Hassan said, “LiveWIRE Brunei will continue to support its ‘Let’s Go Trade’ participants through this platform, as well as enrol them into BSP’s Energy Business Academy (EBA) programme.
“In addition to Iffah’s and Hazimi’s participation in the EBA, both are also in the running as nominees for the Shell Livewire’s ‘Top Ten Global Innovators’ through an online voting system, where the winner will be awarded an additional USD$10,000. I look forward that the winner to be from Brunei,” she said.
Iffah Billah binti Haji Junaidi, 24, chose Xiamen, China and Taiwan as her visit destination because she wanted to gain a better understanding of how she could incorporate a fully integrated production line into the first ‘green’ pilot factory currently under construction in Brunei.
“They’re quite innovative when it comes to machineries and systems used,” Iffah said, adding, “Everything there complies with ISO standards that are current and relevant to my business sector.”
Throughout the trip Iffah took every opportunity to learn every aspect of the production, manufacturing process, research and development, advertising and marketing of her business, from bio-degradable and environmentally-friendly fire extinguishers to a self-sustaining Aquaponics eco-system to energy-efficient solar PV modules.
With the realisation of her company’s vision to reduce carbon footprints and take solar-powered technology to new heights in Brunei, they hope to aim for Brunei to be the first Solar City in the foreseeable future.
Another LGT recipient, Mohammad Qamarul Hazimi bin Dato Paduka Haji Said, 27, visited Italy to attend the EXPO Milan 2015, a universal exposition with 145 countries hosting the theme, ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ focusing on new global scenarios and emerging issues of attaining a self-sustaining lifestyle with innovations in technology for agriculture and biodiversity.
“The expo provided me with a glimpse of how far we’ve come with technology and growth in the agro-food development, in one case harvesting insects as an alternative food source. Countries like the UAE uses petroleum technology, converting it into a food source such as cooking oil. But the key-learning factor for me on this trip was the productivity aspect of it.
“The innovation that goes into packaging quality food can cut costs by up to 80 per cent This experience has shifted my thinking of a new business model but still keeping within the technological scope of things in my current sector,” he said.
Arthur van Amerongen, BSP’s Shell Deepwater Borneo’s Business Finance Manager and the LGT recipients mentor, said, “Shell is a strong supporter of enterprise development and capability building of local talents in Brunei. There is no shortage on their vision and energy levels. They both portray strong characters and the LiveWIRE programme has provided them with the tools, the sharing and the structure that have inspired them through our dialogues, as their mentor.”
Karen Bellis of the Shell LiveWIRE International team at PNE Group said, “We are very excited by the high quality of the participating entrepreneurs and each of their visits has the potential to develop game-changing opportunities that will significantly strengthen their market position and employment creation possibilities.”
BSP’s Social Investment Advisor, Md Haziq Lim credited both LGT recipients in their determination to strive not only for business success but also for demonstrating community values in their vision for a sustainable future.
Both young entrepreneurs have an ambition to trade internationally and have identified a gap specific to their business or in their business sector, which can be addressed through innovation and will align the gap or opportunity identified to their visit destination.
The gaps defined by the entrepreneurs include, for example, a product that isn’t available in Brunei; the delivery of a new, or added value service in their sector; a business model that isn’t in use; a unique delivery channel or a unique method of engaging with their clients on some aspect of their service.