- Representational photo.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam continues to make significant strides in women’s leadership and decision-making roles as highlighted in the country’s recent Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) progress report.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Seri Setia Awang Nazmi Mohamad highlighted these achievements in a message to mark International Women’s Day 2025 which also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the BPfA this year, a global initiative advancing women’s participation across all sectors.
“In 2022, nearly half of permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries were women,” the minister said.
“Women also hold key positions as ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors, heads of mission, the attorney general, high court judges, and chief executive officers in both the public and private sectors.”
Beyond leadership, women in the Sultanate are also thriving in entrepreneurship, supported by initiatives from both government and private sectors, particularly in digital and financial training.
A recent data from the Ministry of Finance and Economy revealed that as of February 7,630 women are registered under the Registry of Companies and Business Names, while 15,878 business entities are owned by women.
The minister emphasised the importance of continuous support from all sectors to further empower women and girls.
Among the key ongoing initiatives is The Ideas Project (Enhancing Digital Economy Participation for Asean Women Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), an Asean-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF)-backed programme that supports women entrepreneurs across Asean.
In Brunei Darussalam, the programme, implemented through Darussalam Enterprise (DARe) in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, aims to train 242 women entrepreneurs across 15 cohorts from June 2024 to December 2025.
The participants will receive training in e-commerce, digital marketing and business model development.
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme, supported by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, continues to provide local women entrepreneurs with business training, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Since its launch in 2021, a total of 66 women entrepreneurs in Brunei have completed the programme through DARe.
“Preparing young women for the workforce is also a priority. The Bersedialah Wanita (PREPanita) Programme, organised by the Community Development Department (JAPEM), has been conducted annually since 2021 for tertiary students from both public and private institutions,” Awang Nazmi said.
“The programme raises awareness on women’s rights, workplace challenges and the concept of work-life harmony, preparing both women and men to navigate their careers with resilience.”
The minister reiterated, “Brunei Darussalam remains committed to strengthening the rights, equity and empowerment of women and girls through national initiatives, international frameworks, and strategic partnerships.
“When women and girls are empowered, it leads to stronger families, harmonious communities, and a more prosperous nation,” he added. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
