Brunei companies and Small and Medium Enterprises or SMEs will soon be able to develop their potential in the growing Halal sector and assist in diversifying the economy with the signing of a collaboration agreement for a project on “research and Education on Islamic Branding and Marketing for Brunei Darussalam”. The project provides knowledge that will facilitate putting the Sultanate on the Halal map and gain access to markets in this competitive industry. In addition, the project will also provide knowledge and transferable skills to Bruneians for long term benefit of the Brunei Halal industry.
This morning, a signing agreement for the project’s Phase One was held between the government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Oxford Said Business School Limited, University of Oxford. Representing Brunei Darussalam was the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya. Signing on behalf of the government was the Acting Director of Agriculture and Agrifood, Dayang Hajah Aidah binti Haji Mohammad Hanifah, while the signatory of Oxford Said Business School Limited, University of Oxford was its Associate Fellow and Project Director, Doctor Paul Temporal. The scope of works in the project are to implement training programmes in branding and marketing techniques; and to conduct as well as write research and development work on the subject area specific to the nation’s needs.
The main focus of this project are topics related to Halal branding and marketing including research on Halal markets, products and services. This is especially appropriate to the future of the Brunei Halal industry such as food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, research on Islamic minority and majority Halal markets – opportunities and challenges among others. Through this research, Brunei will be able to brand, position and prepare itself in the most effective manner to take advantage of this growing Halal industry. The project is expected to be completed in about 12 months. The signing ceremony took place at a hotel in the capital.