Bandar Seri Begawan - In conjunction with the 7th National Youth Day celebration, a mini-exhibition on Brunei's Creative Industry is currently on show at the concourse of the Indoor Stadium, Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.

A total of 13 participants comprising five different categories are currently participating in the event with the aim of exposing the local innovative products and services offered by the participating local entrepreneurs in order to develop Brunei's Creative Industry.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to tour the mini-exhibition where he spent time with the participants, in a show of approval for the new industry. His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik.

The five categories of the Creative Industry are Digital Media and Creative Technology, Film Industry, Visual Arts and Performing Arts, Publishing and Traditional Arts and Crafts.

According to Alomsa Nor Adzmin Hj Alli Omar, one of the exhibitors from Islamic Calligraphy Art, among the products that he and his team are promoting are unique works of calligraphy art from using hand-made tools to sand-blasting machinery.

Alomsa Nor Adzmin, who has been involved in Islamic calligraphy for about 20 years, also said that there are currently not many calligraphy artists in the Sultanate, and hoped that the exhibition will generate more interest among local artists.

Sharing a similar view was Noraidah binti Hj Khamis, representative of the teaching force from the Youth Development Centre (PBB). She said that the Creative Industry is starting to gain momentum and that such exhibitions have helped PBB students land jobs straight after completing their courses.

"A lot of our students, from the Pastry and Confectionery course and the Culinary Skill and Banquet courses, have secured jobs with prominent companies in the service industry straight after completing their work attachments," she noted. She added that "the support and trust from local firms in our students have been encouraging" and that events such as the Youth Day mini-exhibition can further promote the students' culinary art and pastry skills to potential stakeholders.

The participants for this year's exhibition includes Ambuyart Animations, Bru Innovedu Services, Brunei Economic Development Board (iCentre), Youth Entrepreneurs Association Brunei, Poni Divers, Zulzie Photography Studio Enterprise, Origin Film Sdn Bhd, Youth Development Centre (PBB), G5 Young Artist, Lively Dancers, Ridah Handicraft, PHMD Publishing Company and Cube Box Solution.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin