BBYB 2019

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119 BUSINESS SECTORS
digitisation and e-commerce with Brunei’s first
mobile wallet,” said Progresif CEO Paul Taylor.
In the last few years, Progresif has been focussed
on innovation throughout its business such as
simplifying its pricing plans and removing the
annual licence fee, making communications
simple, affordable and more accessible, while
expanding the network coverage and capacity
with the goal of introducing 4G services.
With the introduction of Progresif PAY, Brunei
is poised to join the market leaders of mobile
payments, including China and Singapore,
adding more users to the pool of over 170 million
mobile payment users in Asia.
BruPay
BruPay, a Bruneian registered FinTech company
established in 2017, specialises in developing
cashless payment systems. It offers consumers
and merchants secure and instantaneous
payment at their fingertips.
In August 2018, BruPAY gained approval within
AMBD’s FinTech regulatory sandbox. BruPay’s
eWallet app was launched in November 2018,
available on the App Store and Google Play.
With BruPay’s eWallet app, users can send and
receive money by scanning QR codes or direct
to registered mobile numbers. All users have
to do is sign up, verify their account and top up
their wallet. Top up options include online bank
transfer and cash at participating stores, with
more options to be added soon.
There is also the BruPay Merchant app, which
aims to give business of all sizes access to
e-payment and make merchant-customer
transactions more streamlined. In addition, its
complement and online portal, BruPay Back
Office, allows merchants to digitally measure
their performance, tracking all sales and
transactions, with the option of daily or monthly
reports. For the full merchant suite, business
owners are required to register their account
with the BruPay business team, who can be
contacted at .
All transactions conducted on the BruPay
platform are free, with BruPay only charging a
nominal two per cent withdrawal fee.
“QR code payments have been growing in other
parts of the world and many cash-intensive
merchants, such as hawkers and taxi drivers,
are accepting them. We’re proud that Brunei
is heading in that same direction and with the
technology BruPay is introducing, paying through
QR codes at the pasar malam will soon be a
reality,” said BruPay CEO Sophian Mat Suny.
TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS
Efficient transportation and logistics are vital
to diversify the economy. Brunei’s plus point is
having a strategic location within the Southeast
Asia region.
In recent years, the government of His Majesty
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin
Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar
Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan
and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam made
several initiatives to modernise the transport
system. One such initiative was a joint venture
by Darussalam Assets Sdn Bhd and Beibu Gulf
(HK) Ltd to form the Muara Port Company Sdn
Bhd in February 2017.
The company operates the Muara Container
Terminal, which is the country’s only seaport.
Other initiatives included the establishment
of the Brunei Darussalam Maritime and Ports
Authority (PBMP) in September 2017 as well as
the expansion of the Brunei International Airport.
Domestic connectivity is enhanced with the
construction of three significant bridge projects.
The first is the Sungai Kebun Bridge completed
in October 2017 and officially known as the Raja
Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge.
In May 2018, the Pulau Muara Besar Bridge was
completed. The Temburong Bridge is set for
completion by November 2019.
The Temburong Bridge is the nation’s longest
and most ambitious project yet. The bridge
stretches 30 kilometres over the Brunei Bay
connecting the mainland Brunei-Muara District
and the Temburong exclave.
For business and trade, the establishment
of PBMP remarkably improved the quality of
services at the Muara Port.
Turnaround time saw impressive improvement
from 60 minutes to 30 minutes, while the
container handling productivity in 2017 increased
by 37 per cent.