Dare Brunei: A Unique Bruneian Experience

Darussalam Enterprise, also known as DARe, is a Bruneian government agency that supports the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. DARe was established in 2016 to promote MSMEs as dynamic and resilient drivers of economic growth in Brunei. The agency provides a range of services to local businesses, including training programmes, boot camps, financing schemes, expansion opportunities, and support centres. DARe also facilitates international market access through expositions and trade fairs, helping Bruneian MSMEs integrate into the global value chain.

DARe's role in supporting Brunei's MSMEs

Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) is a statutory body formed in February 2016 to promote, support, and nurture enterprises from startup to growth. DARe is a vital component of Brunei's national vision, Wawasan Brunei 2035, which aims for a dynamic and sustainable economy with a per capita GDP among the world's top ten. DARe's role in supporting Brunei's MSMEs is multifaceted and comprehensive, offering a range of programmes and initiatives to foster business development and growth.

Firstly, DARe provides training and capacity-building programmes to enhance the skills of business owners and employees. The Industry Business Academy, for instance, covers core business competencies such as financial management and marketing, with over 3,400 participants to date. Additionally, DARe runs the Startup Bootcamp and Micro Business Bootcamp, which offer intensive training, mentorship, and access to investors and markets. These boot camps cater to businesses with high growth potential and youth entrepreneurs, respectively, fostering innovation and a diverse business landscape.

Secondly, DARe facilitates access to financing for MSMEs. They introduced the Microcredit Financing Scheme, offering financing of up to $15,000 Brunei dollars. DARe also collaborates closely with Bank Usahawan, enabling MSMEs to obtain financing of up to $750,000. This partnership ensures that MSMEs have the necessary financial support to thrive.

Thirdly, DARe provides physical spaces for MSME expansion and growth. They manage 29 industrial sites across Brunei, offering incubation space for startups and larger spaces for established businesses. Over 300 businesses currently benefit from these sites, engaging in manufacturing and services.

Furthermore, DARe assists MSMEs in accessing local and international markets. The Made in Brunei initiative, for example, helps Bruneian-made products reach a wider audience through retail outlets and product displays, and international expositions. DARe also connects MSMEs with export opportunities and trade fairs, helping them navigate the complexities of exporting successfully.

Additionally, DARe established three Business Support Centres to address the specific needs and inquiries of MSMEs. These centres, located in the capital and other districts, serve as a frontline service, facilitating business processes and resolving issues efficiently.

Lastly, DARe recognises the importance of digital presence and social media in today's business landscape. They launched Biz Brunei, an online news platform that promotes entrepreneurship by sharing the journeys of local MSMEs and highlighting business opportunities and reforms. This initiative ensures that MSMEs can leverage digital tools to their advantage.

In conclusion, DARe plays a pivotal role in supporting Brunei's MSMEs by offering a range of programmes, resources, and initiatives. Through training, financing, physical spaces, market access, and business support, DARe empowers MSMEs to drive innovation, economic development, and job creation in Brunei.

Training programmes for MSMEs

Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) is an organisation that provides support for businesses in Brunei. It offers a range of training programmes and other initiatives to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) develop and grow.

One of the key programmes is the Industry Business Academy (IBA), a development and learning programme designed to address the present-day issues faced by local entrepreneurs. The IBA offers early bird registration for MSMEs, with courses covering business knowledge and sustainability. The DARe LINKS initiative also supports MSMEs by providing a platform to increase their participation in local supply chains and encouraging proper procurement practices. Through the DARe LINKS Portal, MSMEs can access a directory of opportunities, including projects, tenders and procurement requests.

The Energy Incubation initiative is another key programme, which is a collaboration between the Ministry of Energy and DARe. This programme provides MSMEs with relevant training programmes, co-working spaces, mentorship and information on upcoming tenders. The aim is to help entrepreneurs improve their competencies and overall performance, specifically within the Oil & Gas industry.

In addition to these initiatives, DARe also offers bootcamp programmes to assist with business development. The Micro Bootcamp programme helps individuals starting their business journey, while the Accelerate Bootcamp programme supports businesses looking to grow. DARe also facilitates the Brunei Mentors for Entrepreneurs Network, a voluntary initiative that connects business mentors with growing businesses. This network includes successful entrepreneurs, industry experts, professionals and academicians who are willing to share their knowledge and experience.

Business financing

Darussalam Enterprise, also known as DARe, was established in 2016 to support the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Brunei. DARe offers a range of services and initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and business growth, including business financing.

Microcredit Financing Scheme

DARe has introduced a Microcredit Financing Scheme, which offers financing of up to $15,000 with no collateral required. This scheme is open to businesses that are wholly owned by locals and have fewer than 100 employees. The financing has an annual profit rate of 4% and a repayment period of up to three years. To apply, businesses must submit a business plan specifying how the loan will be used. DARe assesses the viability and sustainability of the proposals jointly with Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD).

Co-Matching Scheme

The Co-Matching Scheme is a grant designed to assist businesses with starting up or expansion costs, offering up to a maximum of $20,000.

Bank Usahawan

DARe works closely with Bank Usahawan, where MSMEs can obtain financing of up to $750,000.

Business Support

In addition to financing, DARe provides business support services to help MSMEs grow and succeed. This includes training programmes such as the Industry Business Academy, which covers core business skills, and business boot camps that offer intensive training, mentorship, and access to investors and markets. DARe also provides physical space for business expansion, including incubation space for startups and industrial land or ready-built factories for larger businesses.

Market access for MSMEs

Darussalam Enterprise, also known as DARe, was established in 2016 to support the development of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) into dynamic and resilient drivers of economic growth. MSMEs are a critical force in the global economy, making up over 90% of the world's businesses and responsible for 80% of newly created jobs in emerging markets. Despite their wide representation, they do not have a proportionate share in Gross Domestic Product and exports, indicating a need for improvement.

In Brunei, the development of MSMEs is an essential component of the national vision, Wawasan Brunei 2035, which aims for a dynamic and sustainable economy with a high per capita GDP. To achieve this, Brunei has implemented a reform agenda to improve the ease of doing business and established DARe to support MSMEs.

DARe offers a range of programmes and initiatives to increase market access for MSMEs, both locally and overseas. The Market Access Unit provides free business advisory services, training, and networking events to help MSMEs expand their businesses. They also offer a structured programme with customised assistance in areas such as business review, strategy execution, internationalisation, technology adoption, and marketing advice.

To increase local market access, DARe showcases products in local supermarkets, souvenir shops, the Brunei International Airport, and premium hotels. They also launched the Made in Brunei initiative, providing Bruneian-made products with access to retail outlets nationwide. Additionally, DARe facilitates business linkages between local clients and registered MSMEs through a B2B platform, supporting MSMEs in performing effectively on contracts.

For MSMEs looking to expand overseas, DARe provides information on export opportunities and participation in international expositions and trade fairs. They also work closely with government agencies to nominate and select Brunei companies ready to network with international players. DARe's initiatives aim to enable MSMEs to have the production capacity, international certifications, and logistics required for successful exporting.

Through these various programmes and initiatives, DARe strives to increase market access for MSMEs, contributing to their overall growth and development, and ultimately, the realisation of Brunei's economic vision.

Business support centres

DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) has established Business Support Centres (BSC) to provide a single venue for businesses to address all their business-related needs. The BSCs are designed to be action centres, offering a range of services to support individuals, entrepreneurs and enterprises.

Currently, there are three BSC branches located in different districts of Brunei:

• The flagship branch is situated in the capital, Brunei Muara District, and houses 13 different government agencies.
• The second branch is in Belait District, specifically in Kuala Belait. This branch initially offered a more limited range of services, including DARe's Business Help Desk, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Cottage Industry and Cooperatives Division of the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister's Office. However, there were plans to expand the services to include OneBiz and other relevant agencies.
• The third branch is located in the Temburong District, with the Bato Apoi Industrial Complex serving as the potential location.

The BSCs provide a range of services to businesses, including:

• Access and submission of business-related applications, such as permits, licenses, and registrations.
• Obtaining business advice and information on various business-related processes.
• Learning about and applying for SME programmes and assistance schemes.
• Logging business-related issues, feedback and inquiries through the Business Helpdesk.

The BSCs operate as a frontline service for businesses, facilitating their day-to-day operations and providing support to address specific problems and issues. DARe's establishment of these centres is part of its effort to improve the business ecosystem in the Sultanate and ease transactions for local enterprises.

Frequently asked questions