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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019
I-Usahawan briefing at the Brunei Shell Recreation Club in Panaga, Seria on April 26, 2018
Targetting young aspiring entrepreneurs and
indigenous (Bumiputra) business owners,
I-Usahawan represents an entrepreneurship
development initiative by the Ministry of
Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI) in
collaboration with Brunei Shell Joint Venture
(BSJV) Companies to help provide a platform for
Bumiputra-owned start-up companies and young
Brunei Entrepreneurs from the age of 21 to 40 to
secure their first BSJV contract.
As such, the I-Usahawan as a whole, represents
a Youth Entrepreneurship Development
Programme to help support and aid young
Bruneian entrepreneurs to start, own and grow
their own business; while securing their first
contract with the government, government link
companies and statutory bodies.
The I-Usahawan programme has over 30
contracts from Brunei Shell Petroleum Co
Sdn Bhd, Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd, PETRONAS
Carigali Brunei Ltd, Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn
Bhd, Brunei Shell Marketing Co Sdn Bhd,
Brunei National Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd
(PetroleumBRUNEI), TEPB E&P Borneo BV and
Brunei Methanol Company Sdn Bhd.
Furthermore, being in line with BSJV’s In Country
Value (ICV) Initiative, the I-Usahawan programme
also aims to help bolster the potential workforce
by providing its participants with training for
them to start as well as develop a business.
This in turn will help provide job opportunities for
Bruneians while simultaneously allowing young
Bruneian entrepreneurs to have direct contract
with oil and gas operators.
I-USAHAWAN
During the start of the programme, the par-
ticipants are briefed on the various available
contracts by the companies over the course of
months in various parts of the district, before the
Expression of Interest (EoI) is issued.
Over the course of the programme, participants
are provided support through a Start-Up
Accelerator programme which consists training
relevant to the available contract, as well as
being invited to a competitive tender exercise for
selected contracts to familiarise themselves the
process involved.
When the actual tenders for the contract are re-
leased and are applied by the participants, the
tenders will be evaluated by the companies and
subsequent contracts will be awarded to those
who meet the criteria.
During this time, the MEMI monitors and
provides resource support, while contract
owners are to identify contract for ring-fencing
and Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) will provide
the training platform for participants of the
programme.
Successful participants will be awarded a
three-year contract in their relevant field with
potential extension and will have access to the
BSJV Credit Facility Programme through Bank
Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) or Baiduri Bank.
Furthermore, experienced business mentors will
be assigned to the participants throughout the
contract period.
With the programme underway with a planned
roadmap over the course of 2019 and beyond,
it represents one of the many initiatives rolled-
out to by MEMI and BSJV to realise 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’s
vision to boost economic growth, especially in
encouraging SMEs to permeate the regional and
international markets.