Bandar Seri Begawan - A business "incubator" programme is in the works to help small and "medium enterprises (SMEs) strengthen their capabilities to process food products that have the potential to make it in overseas markets.

The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources signed an agreement with SQW China Ltd for a consultancy project on the development of food processing "incubators" for local SMEs yesterday.

A business incubator refers to a programme that allows young enterprises to receive mentoring in developing their businesses.

The project's first phase will see SQW China providing its expertise in the conduct of a thorough study and research, to help the department establish the upcoming Food Processing Incubators.

Read more: Topnotch Help For Food SMEs

Government agencies concerned have made great strides in slashing the number of steps and days it takes to start a business in Brunei Darussalam.

The Sultanate has already cut the number of "doing business" procedures involving the Registry of Companies (ROC) from six to two.

Steps involving the ROC that initially required 43 days to complete now require only 23 days, according to Vincent Cheong, chief executive officer of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

He said the board has been working with the ROC and the Lands Department to expedite the process of starting a business in Brunei in an effort to improve the Sultanate's ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business report.

Read more: Making doing business easier

With the second season of the Asean Basketball League (ABL) set to begin in October, the Brunei Tourism Board said that it will take the opportunity to step up promotional efforts and engage itself in "a more leading role" in terms of branding.

"This event is definitely in line with our sports tourism efforts," said Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohammad, director of the Brunei Tourism Board. This time around, Sheikh Jamaluddin said that he hopes to "take on a more leading role" in terms of branding.

"This is an international event, so we want to take the branding more seriously, by putting the logo of Brunei around the court," he said. Last year the event was publicised through ESPN on Astro, and garnered a lot of media attention in the region.

Read more: Tourism Board to leverage on ABL

WHILE a high number of students thronged the UK Education Fair yesterday at the Rizqun Hotel, they may have to dig a little deeper into their pockets if they are heading to the United Kingdom without any financial help from the Brunei government or their parents.

According to Robin Fenn, British High Commissioner to Brunei, the high commission currently has no facilities to provide financial aid to prospective students applying to English universities.

Read more: Cash-strapped? Use other options to obtain British-certified education

Read more: Challenging standards of Bruneian hospitality