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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2023
The event sawdiscussions on themarket
challenges faced by industry players at
the start of the outbreak of COVID-19
and during the transition phase.
The panel of speakers included BIBD
Head of Corporate Digital and Business
Development from the Corporate
Banking Group Haji Shamri bin Haji
Mahali. “Home ownership is something
that almost every Bruneian looks forward
to and we at BIBD try to take the extra
mile to help them realise their dream,” he
said.
Despite the outbreak of COVID-19,
property financing has been fairly stable
and has not been directly impacted by
the pandemic.
“However, external challenges caused
by the pandemic such as delivery
and completion time due to limited
manpower as well as the rising cost of
materials are causing home buyers and
investors to put the idea on hold,” he
said.
The panellists agreed that the local
real estate market bodes well for
homeowners despite the pandemic.
Prices of properties are also expected
to become more competitive and
reasonable with better designs being
offered to prospective buyers with the
country’s growing population.
As part of the event, a forum titled
‘Brunei’s
Construction
Industry
Challenges and Opportunities’ was
also conducted where panelists
discussed project delays caused by
manpower issues due to restrictions
and labour shortages. These issues
were common and a major challenge
in the pandemic, especially with the
construction industry being reliant on
foreign labours. However, this has also
opened up opportunities for locals to
step up and upskill themselves.
Similarly, another forum ‘Facilitation
Management:
Optimisation
and
Opportunities’ Critical Measures’ also
highlighted that while the facilities
management industry in Brunei is
still in its infancy, there is a greater
understanding and emphasis on the
importance of facilities management
that could play a role in ensuring the
efficiency, quality and profitability of a
business.
The final session focussed on ‘Impact
and Sustainability’ in which speakers
discussed the trend of eco-friendly
business practices and emphasised
that sustainability goes beyond design
and materials but the overall lifestyle in
general.
The speakers also called for full public
support for the ‘
Protokol Hijau
’ or Green
Protocol, to adopt and contribute
significantly towards building a
sustainable nation that is efficient in its
waste management, carbon reduction,
environmental
conservation
and
restoration.
OneRiverside
Situated along the scenic Kedayan
River in the heart of Gadong, One
Riverside is Brunei Darussalam’s first
luxury residential and commercial
development. The development is
made up of 84 condominium units,
with private courtyard gardens and a
riverside promenade. Spacious and
elegant, each apartment comes with
three bedrooms, a study, a utility room
and a kitchen. Residents have access
to a private parking area on the first
level.
Gadong and Kiulap are a five-minute
drive away, with a pedestrian bridge
connecting the promenade to Kiulap.
This is ideal for those looking for a
breezy stroll. Alternatively, one can ride
a boat from the promenade to Gadong
or Kiulap for a unique commuting
experience.
Brunei’s premier supermarket, Supa
Save, opened its fourth branch at One
Riverside in 2019. The supermarket
offers a wide range of gourmet and
organic products from overseas, while
the Supa Save Café offers popular local
delights.
Patrons can also find popular eateries
such as Excapade, Nanyang Food
Garden, Margherita Pizzeria, Area 8,
Twinkle Kids Café, Amsarra, Bloom
Café, Chocolate Origins, The Coffee
Bean & Tea Leaf Brunei, Iskandar Curry
House, Ximply Chriz and Kaizen Sushi
at Riverside House. Sports enthusiasts
will enjoy shopping at Run Trail Nation
and Under Armour. There is also Bloom
Project Co with beautifully designed
bouquets and flower arrangements for
all occasions.