83 / 260
81
programmes that helped many affected
customers and individuals get back on their feet
or start new ventures to ease the burdens caused
by the pandemic.
When schools transitioned to online learning
or virtual schooling to curb the risks of further
outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, it was
important for BIBD to ensure that the bright but
underprivileged students were not left behind.
Assistance was extended to the bank’s ALAF
students, where their education needs were
provided by stakeholders such as Progresif, who
contributed in the form of mobile broadband
dongles and three months’ worth of broadband
connectivity. The provision of broadband
connectivity enabled the students to access their
online teaching materials and video conferencing
sessions with their teachers.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, BIBD
also unveiled its latest CSR initiative, ‘Community
for Brunei’, a virtual marketplace designed to help
small businesses, highlighting different social
and charitable causes to the heart of Brunei. This
initiative was launched with close collaboration
between the bank, start-ups like Think Axis, The
Collective, Alicia Newn and logistics companies,
and government agencies.
Community for Brunei’s first project was
‘Community for COVID’, a way for members of the
public to support medical frontliners through the
virtual marketplace and assist small businesses in
Brunei to expand their ability to earn. Customers
were able to purchase food and beverages, care
packages and services from the platform that
were delivered directly to frontliners at various
hospitals across the country. Uniquely, the
exact needs of frontliners at medical centres
and hospitals throughout the country would be
informed to the public through an online tally.
Through the same platform, BIBD also launched
‘Community for Ramadhan’ – a virtual ‘Gerai
Ramadhan’ which enabled customers to
purchase food and drinks from vendors who
typically participated in the yearly Ramadhan
stalls organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs
(MoHA) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and
Sports (MCYS).
BIBD Chief Marketing Officer
,
Hajah Nurul Akmar
binti Haji Mohd Jaafar
said that the spread of
COVID-19 has disrupted communities, businesses
and livelihoods, both locally and worldwide.
“Alhamdulillah, BIBD is proud to be part of
an initiative that will enable individuals to
come together for collective action, extending
assistance to those in need while at the same
time, protecting the livelihood of our local
MSMEs,” she said.
She also hoped that Community for Brunei
will become the premier destination for local
businesses, enabling them to scale and grow
while at the same time, allowing a place for the
public to give back to the community as well
as create a digitalised society powered by a
cashless economy.
Furthermore, it is also hoped that the platform
will provide a place for various non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) to initiate community works
and causes as well as allow them to congregate
digitally and work towards a common goal in
serving the community and supporting Brunei
Vision 2035.
Apart from Community for Brunei, BIBD continued
its efforts in supporting the MoH combat the
spread of COVID-19 by handing over BND296,160
to the COVID-19 Relief Fund, from the General
Maslahat Fund which is managed by BIBD as
per BIBD Shariah Advisory Body guidelines. The
donations were for the purchase of 5,000 wrist
bands, six ventilators and 21 electric beds for
the National Isolation Centre. This contribution
by BIBD is just part of the bank’s support of
the MoH in the fight against COVID-19. Among
others, BIBD also helped raise public awareness
on the importance of being socially responsible
by promoting information on preventive measures
against COVID-19 through social media, radio, TV
and print.
BIBD was a keen supporter of the MoFE in the
launch of the COVID-19 Relief Fund. Thus, the
bank facilitated easy payment of donations via
BIBD QuickPay or fund transfer, both methods
that could be carried out without physically going
to a branch. By July 2020, the fund had collected
BND14.5 million.
When schools nationwide began re-opening as
part of the second phase of de-escalation, the
bank also donated hand sanitisers, gloves and
face masks to the Ministry of Education (MoE)
and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA)
to
assist these agencies in ensuring the health,
safety and well-being of students and teachers
as they returned to school.
BIBD’s contributions signify the bank’s
commitment to being a Partner in Progress
through its ongoing support for 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 towards achieving key strategic
initiatives that will benefit the nation as a whole.
BIBD also remains keen to heighten and multiply
its cooperation with various stakeholders from
public and private sectors as it continues its
journey to position itself as the best Islamic Bank
in Asia-Pacific while at the same time supports
Brunei’s economic and social development.