The role and involvement of the country's young entrepreneurs was the main highlight of this year's Hari Raya gathering organised by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan).

As part of the efforts to provide exposure to local entrepreneurs, Yayasan is currently hosting a two-day expo, 'Young Entrepreneurs' Exhibition and Booth Sales', at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

In an interview on the sidelines of the exhibition, Dayang Hajah Norminah binti Haji Mahali, Head of the Asnaf Zakat Empowerment Programme (PROPAZ) Secretariat, explained that the scheme was introduced in 2007 for providing the underprivileged community with assistance towards self-sufficiency.

Hajah Norminah also said that 70 per cent of its recipients are currently being employed either at government or private sectors, while some have already started their own businesses, after joining the scheme which is being funded by Agihan Wang Zakat Asnaf Fakir Miskin (Tithe Collections for the Poor and Destitute).

Recently, PROPAZ recruited the eighth intake into its fold, during which participants will undergo nine months of training - six months of acquiring skills at the Youth Development Centre (PPB) and three months of attachment at private companies.

"If they perform well during their attachment programme, the chances of employment for them are high," said Hajah Norminah.

"Usually, by the end of the programme, we always discuss with participants whether they want to be employed or start their own business. Some of them prefer to ply their own trade, so we forward the matter to DARe in helping them to acquire more skills such as accounting, making business plans and so on. In terms of capital, PROPAZ usually forwards the matter to the Brunei Religious Islamic Council (MUIB) for a start-up funding."

When asked about whether PROPAZ has been successful in achieving its main objective, she replied, "So far, the scheme is a success. In our early years, we focused more on employment for parents by helping them to acquire more skills. But over the years, we received positive feedback from the children of the underprivileged, who were determined to break out from the cycle of poverty. The training provided them with the necessary skills to earn a living."

Meanwhile, SCG Group, a cube-based company that has been supporting more than 500 local businesses, is one of the participants at the ICC expo.

Awang Muhd Wafiuddin bin Haji Jumat, the Marketing Manager of SGC, said in an interview that their company first began in Kiulap in 2012. From only one cube shop, they now have four branches - at Citis Square, The Mall Gadong, Yayasan Complex and Mentiri.

By offering cube slots to encourage more local entrepreneurs to get in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the concept has generated positive response among their own clientele.

For Dr. Hajah Mona Yati binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Mohd Kassim, an Adjunct Senior Assistant Professor at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), who is also the founder of MUBN Learning and Growth Company and the creator of Hawa 1.0 that focuses on the Muslimah Entrepreneurship Clinic, aspiring entrepreneurs need to possess a strong will and plenty of confidence.

She told the media that the need for children to be exposed to scientific education based on the Al-Quran and As-Sunnah, motivated her to launch MUBN, a programme which focuses on Islamic enrichment for children and its application in their daily lives.

The Yayasan Young Entrepreneurs' Exhibition and Booth Sales is currently taking place both today at 2pm-10pm, and tomorrow at 10am-8pm, at the ICC in Berakas.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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