The Proudly Brunei Business Awards (PBBA) returned for its second edition yesterday, recognising six local businesses for business excellence and entrepreneurial achievement — as last year’s winners continue to report strong growth.
One-stop wedding and event planner Wedding Loka won the Services Award, with its CEO and Managing Director Ina Hassanan also receiving the Youth Entrepreneur Award.
Poni Marine and Taurean Bakeshop & Cafe secured PBBA wins for the second consecutive year, taking home the Business Growth Award and Food Award, respectively.
Building on its recent international recognition at the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge, Fatih Aquaculture earned the Startup Award, continuing its momentum in sustainable fish farming.
After being a nominee last year, Beauteleven founder Nuramanina Zamri clinched the Women Entrepreneur Award for her growing headscarf and modestwear label. Community-based eco-tourism provider Kommunihub took home the Tourism Award.
Minister of Finance and Economy II, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Chairman of Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Md Amin Liew Abdullah presented the awards as the event’s Guest of Honour at Tarindak D’Polo.
Over a hundred businesses applied for this year’s PBBA, which serves as the national-level business awards that creates a pipeline for Brunei representation at regional and international awards.
Organised by the BEDB, the annual awards are split into two main categories – Open and Priority Sector – with a total of 10 awards offered. This year, no winners were announced for the Downstream, ICT, and Innovation awards.
Each award receives $10,000 and is assigned a strategic partner — leading Bruneian corporations expected to offer opportunities such as incentives, value-added programmes, and collaborations to support the winner’s business growth.
Awardees chart growth in BEDB’s ecosystem
As a celebration of local entrepreneurship, PBBA serves as a recognition platform that complements and rounds off the developmental initiatives under BEDB’s enterprise development arm, DARe.
DARe’s initiatives cover market access, capacity building and financing — syngergising with BEDB’s other core functions of industrial site management and FDI facilitation.
Several of this year’s awardees have progressed within this BEDB ecosystem, emerging as sustainable, profitable operations that are capable of earning national recognition.
For Fatih Aquaulcutre founder Fathi Norafan, who began a recirculating aquaculture system in his parents” backyard five years ago as a UBD student, DARe’s support “have provided invaluable networks and development that have enabled us to fast track our growth”.
Entering into BEDB’s ecosystem through their startup development programme Accelerate, later securing their co-matching grant to help expand their first commercial fish farm at MPRT’s Pulau Kaingaran site.
More recently, BEDB facilitated their entry to the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge, where they were one of 60 sustainable projects to receive funding — netting another US$38,000.
Now with a second site in Sg Bunga, Fatih has set his sights on doubling his monthly output to one tonne of tilapia and seabass, while continuing to pursue other verticals in the aquaculture supply chain.
“Recently we ventured into opening an eatery, OneFish, and now are looking to produce an OEM fish processed product for export,” said Fathi, who has a Master’s in Biodiversity from UBD.
“BEDB and DARe have supported the beginning when we were just a hobby project. With this award, it is further recognition that we are on the right path, and it gives us the confidence and connections to reach new heights.”
First cohort continues momentum
Awardees from the first PBBA have reported strong growth over the past year, including significant local expansions and international forays.
Winner of last year’s Startup Award Gomamam have cemented their position as Brunei’s leading food delivery platform, scaling to consistently deliver over a thousand deliveries a day with a pool of 2,500 runners.
Founder Hadi Wahab said they are finalising a $1 million investment from a foreign investor, a connection made during BEDB’s Brunei Starutp Summit.
Quick-service restaurant A.Ayam, last year’s Business Growth recipient, has expanded beyond restaurant operations into exploring food manufacturing, successfully exporting small shipments of their signature sauces to Singapore and the Philippines.
“What matters most is the support and opportunities given to expand our networks and partnerships — not just locally, but internationally,” said A.Ayam’s Director Marcus Tan.
Marcus’ parents started A.Ayam in 2002, but over the past five years, Marcus has been rebranding the business from a fast-food operation to a fast-casual dining chain.
“Winning the award reflected the strategy we brought into our business. And with that momentum, we’ve managed to export our products to regional markets,” he added.
Open call for more awardees
BEDB Acting CEO Daniel Leong encouraged more local businesses to apply for the PBBA and join the wider BEDB ecosystem supporting economic diversification.
“PBBA is more than a celebration — it’s a platform to inspire and empower local businesses to lead with purpose, resilience, and innovation,” said Leong. “BEDB remains committed to building an ecosystem where Bruneian enterprise can thrive and shape the future of our economy.”
Founder of Poni, who won two awards under the company’s wider group, said PBBA was “an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed”.
“To be honest we are surprised that there are not even more (than a hundred) businesses applying for the award; because the recognition, prize and strategic partnerships offered make this the best business award in Brunei,” he said.
“Even as we had some questions through the application process, the BEDB team were very helpful and even had clinics to help answer queries.”
To be eligible businesses must be at least 50% locally owned and have been operational for at least three years with financial records. Businesses with government shareholding are ineligible.
There are also more specific criteria for each award.
Local value creation — including job creation and locally developed products or services — is prioritised across all categories.
PBBA’s judging process begins with an external auditor — PwC for the past two years — assessing applicants, followed by evaluation and then final judging selection by separate panels of industry and academic professionals.
