Opportunities to develop Belait’s economic potential were at the forefront of discussions during the Brunei Economic Development Board’s (BEDB) inaugural roundtable dialogue with the Belait business community. The event, held at the Grand Ballroom of the V Plaza Hotel, brought together 30 leading business representatives from the district to engage with BEDB and key government agencies.
The session was led by Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Minister of Finance and Economy II, and BEDB Chairman, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah. “This Roundtable provides us with an opportunity to share ideas and demonstrate our commitments to work together to improve the business environment in the Belait town to drive its economic potential,” said the Minister in his opening address.
The dialogue saw Belait’s business community expressing optimism of working collaboratively with BEDB and government agencies to address shared challenges and unlock opportunities for economic growth. Key suggestions included creating more affordable, shared commercial spaces for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to operate collectively, potentially becoming an attraction for the district’s residents and nearby visitors.
“We know that Belait’s population has spending power, especially with the significant expatriate community here,” said Masrhiem Taufik, Managing Director of ESCA Martine & Engineering.
“But commercial spaces can be quite limited and costly, so MSMEs often resort to renting residential units or running businesses from home. We’re eager to work with BEDB to explore possibilities, such as repurposing underutilized buildings into business hubs for MSMEs.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dannie Azzura Hj Abu Basrah, who operates a real estate agency, highlighted consistent interest from businesses seeking to open in Belait, but cited limited options as a barrier. “Now that we have this channel for dialogue, I am confident that this represents a fresh platform for us to work with BEDB and the government to develop Belait to the potential we know it has,” said Dannie.
Following the dialogue, a networking luncheon was held to further strengthen connections among attendees. The event drew participation from key players across various sectors, as well as representatives from business associations.
Discussions focused on addressing critical challenges and identifying actionable solutions to support the growth of Belait’s commercial ecosystem. BEDB emphasized its commitment to fostering a platform for collaboration and innovation, with the goal of driving sustainable growth.
The Belait engagement is part of BEDB’s broader initiative to conduct dialogues with different business sectors. BEDB encourages businesses to reach out for support or to raise issues through info@bedb.gov.bn.