Bandar Seri Begawan - Representatives from the local business community were hosted to a workshop initiated by the National Ease of Doing Business (EODB) steering committee yesterday, aimed at spreading awareness to the local business community on procedural reforms and enhanced processes that has been implemented by the Government in improving the country's ranking in the annual EODB report.

Brunei Darussalam has seen a marked improvement by moving up four places to 79 from the 8311 position the previous year out of 185 countries in the 10th edition of the annual report published by the World Bank and WC, released late last year.

Present as the guest of honour to officiate the one-day workshop at the Orchid Garden Hotel yesterday was the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, who is also the Chairperson of the EODB Steering Committee which is responsible for catalysing the implementation of policy reforms and government business processes towards a conducive business environment and ease of doing business for local businesses.

The workshop, attended by over 80 participants comprising of representatives from government agencies, the business community and contributors for the EODB survey featured among others a briefing on the EODB Steering Committee's initiatives as well as an introduction on the survey, Brunei's ranking and scope of report by its Steering Committee Secretariat, Mariani binti Hj Sabtu.

This was followed by a series of briefings covering various aspects of the EODB indicators of business regulations from several Government departments and agencies to share and provide details on reforms made in easing work-flow processes in their respective areas.

The topics include the report's indicator in Starting a Business; The Registration of Companies and Name of Business (ROCBN), the transfer of ROCBN to the Ministry of Finance and initiatives in the Fast Tracking Issuance of Miscellaneous License; Indicator in Dealing with Construction Permits - Processes in obtaining Construction Permits in the Bandar Seri Begawan Area by the BSB Municipal Department and Indicator in Getting Credit; The establishment of Credit Bureau in Brunei Darussalam by the Monetary Authority Brunei Darussalam (AMBD).

Apart from informing local businesses and stakeholders on updated information on reforms and initiatives implemented by EOBD, the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in a press release said it also aims towards "gaining feedback from stakeholders and the private sector on issues that they dealt with and to encourage suggestions and recommendations to allow for government businesses to process efficiently in ease of doing business in Brunei Darussalam".

Members of the EODB Steering Committee comprises of Permanent Secretaries from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin