Twenty-eight local businesses recently completed an intensive, six-month mentoring programme under the second phase of the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN).
Implemented locally by Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) and Shell LiveWIRE Brunei (LiveWIRE Brunei), AMEN is a modules-based training programme for ASEAN MSMEs, initiated as a legacy project and public-private initiative by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) Philippines during the country’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017.
AMEN’s first phase of implementation in 2019 covered the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with the second phase currently covering the programme’s rollout to the remaining member states including Brunei.
To mark the programme’s completion in Brunei, participants were feted in a ceremony on 21 June 2023 at the Design & Technology Building, Anggerek Desa, where the Acting CEO of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and DARe Daniel Leong, and the Program Director at Shell LiveWIRE Brunei Abdul Qawiem Hj Yacob presented participants with their graduation certificates.
The 28 participating businesses, represented by 33 mentees, underwent 10 business-learning modules beginning in January this year, taught by a group of mentors comprising business owners, professionals, and academia.
The participants also received individualised coaching sessions to produce their own business improvement plans designed to enhance the performance of their respective enterprises; the plan covers different areas including market opportunity, competitive advantage, management capabilities, financial understanding, innovation, and business sustainability.
The Director for Enterprise Development of DARe Norlela Suhailee, who is also Brunei’s representative to ACCMSME, encouraged participants to continue their mentorship journey with DARe’s Brunei Mentors for Entrepreneurs Network (BMEN), which actively hosts engagements for MSMEs to connect with its pool of over 80 mentors.
The graduation event was also attended by mentors, coaches, and other key stakeholders who assisted with AMEN’s implementation, including AMEN Brunei National Consultant Dr. Sophiana Chua and ASEAN BAC member for Brunei Sabirin Othman.
AMEN is supported by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSMEs (ACCMSME) and is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund with the objective of empowering ASEAN’s MSMEs by providing training that will help them scale up and sustain their operations, provide jobs, and spur economic progress.
DARe invites the participation of aspiring mentors and mentees to continue building up the mentorship ecosystem in Brunei through BMEN. Businesses interested in connecting or learning more about BMEN can visit www.bruneimentors.com.
The article above is a press release from Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) that has been edited for length and brevity.
