MeSixty could be the next big thing

Fifteen schools will be taking part in a programme that will teach entrepreneurship through mentoring and coaching, in hopes of inspiring and equipping Brunei’s younger generation to learn and succeed through enterprise.

Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Nawi, acting director of the Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education, said that the Brunei Entrepreneurship Education Scheme (BEES) which is in partnership with Brunei Shell Petroleum, would be available in January in selected government secondary schools, technical schools, Arab school, and a private secondary school.

“The ministry hopes that within three years time, all government secondary schools and technical/vocational schools will have BEES programme runnning in their schools. To ensure sustainability plan for the continuation of BEES programme, the Ministry of Education will take ownership and operation of the BEES programme in 2015,” he said.

Also in attendance was Ken Marnoch, Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and he believed that the program builds on efforts in building a dynamic and sustainable economy for Brunei. This is very ideal platform to encourage the local to be more entrepreneurial and hence contributing to the nation’s long-term economic development.

Marnoch hopes one day we can find the next Tony Fernandes or Steve Jobs from Brunei. This concept of entrepreneurship programme such as BEES have been proven in other countries.

A big thumbs up on this matter as I’m a firm believer of entrepreneurship. Text by Deno Goh of The Brunei Times and images courtesy of BSP. Click [here] for more coverage.

Hj Abdul Rahman, Acting Director of the Curriculum Development Department, MOE, hopes that BEES programme will be implemented in all government secondary schools in the next few years

Ken Marnoch, Managing Director of BSP, said that 10 volunteers from BSP and Brunei LNG would parter with advisors from UBD and other school teachers in the BEES programme

Group photo with the volunteers

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Last year, he helped created awareness for the Pakistan flood victims

He’s very involved with Beach Bunch activities and a good ambassador too

And yesterday, he experienced another magical moment. His newly born daughter Eva Lim. Congratulations, dude

It’s happening tomorrow and Deseo will turn 3 years tomorrow and all are invited to Deseo’s anniversary celebration. It will feature their latest collection, special discounts and there will be tons of activities where you can win attractive prizes.

Deseo is located at Regent Square on 1st Floor at Kiulap. The event starts tomorrow at 2pm. Maira, Deseo’s talent search winner, will be there as well.

Maira, Deseo’s Talent Search winner, will be at Deseo tomorrow too

Wuuuuuu… the spinning wheel at Deseo 🙂

This is sometimes the hardest part for any entrepreneur especially in Brunei. Yes, we have heard of grants provided by governments and semi-government bodies. However, raising funds from venture capitalists ain’t easy. This morning, Keeran Janin’s company MeSixty Sdn Bhd gets a major boost from a venture capitalist from Singapore, Accel-X Pte Ltd.

MeSixty, only founded this year, will use the new inject funds for the development of a range of innovative applications built around its technology which indexes and analyze geo-social media (social-media created with mobile devices and tagged to location). This is a great move the company as we all know how mobile devices (even tablets) are fast becoming the primary way of accessing social-networks: presenting big opportunity for companies such as MeSixty.

The funds will allow them to accelerate further in their development stage in order to enter the arena with a unique product and solid value-proposition. With the funds, do expect them to expand in human resources and so far they have four developers and 3 creative professionals working on the prototype.

Today was the signing ceremony between Keeran Janin, co-founder of MeSixty and Edmund Yong of Accel-X Ptd Ltd and it was witnessed by Vincent Cheong, CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board.

Keeran Janin, co-founder of MeSixty, was very excited about the project and he hopes the injected capital can further accelerate his project. MeSixty is at in infant stage and it’s similar to Flipboard (iPad apps) but with the integrations of social-media features. Keeran also shared that this is the biggest milestone he has achieved as a technopreneur. He hinted that the iPhone/iPad apps will be launched in the a month or two. So far, there are a hundred beta users where the developers are fine tuning the apps.

Guests who attended the signing ceremony at the iCentre

Keeran Janin shaking hands with Edmund Yong of Accel-X Pte Ltd as Vincent Cheong, CEO of BEDB looks on

Liam Janin, Social Cartographer of MeSixty, Keeran Janin, Co-founder of MeSixty and Shafique Hussain, Creative Marketing Dynamist of MeSixty

2 more days for Holika Holika promotion

Are you fan of CNBlue? or for this case, any Korean band? I watched some of their music videos and they are pretty good. Now you guys get a chance to watchCNBlue at Bangkok in mid-November and the catch is you have to purchase Holika Holika’s Garden Recipe Set and fill in the form for the lucky draw.

Did you know that the Brunei partner Braun On of Holika Holika will be bringing 30 WINNERS…. Yes, 30 winners to Bangkok to catch CNBlue… Now that’s a big sum and it’s a good chance for shoppers to stand a chance to fly to Bangkok.

The entry forms are available at any Holika Holika branch at Times Square, Hua Ho Yayasan, Hua Ho Kiulap and The Mall and the last day of entry is Sunday, 6th November 2011. The draw itself will take place on 8th November 2011.

The 30 winners will be awarded to a three-day two-night trip to Bangkok, along with hotel accommodation, concert tickets, spending money, and a chance to meet the band in person. Now that’s what I call an awesome promotion.

Will both Denise and Sim Yuan win a chance to fly to Bangkok?

Some of the products at Holika Holika

Denise sending her form for the lucky draw

The lucky draw box will be drawn on 8th November

Carol also tried her luck to catch the Korean band

So do shop at Holika Holika at The Mall, Times Square, Hua Ho Yayasan and Hua Ho Kiulap

OGH Indian Food Promotion

DO YOU have a taste for Indian cuisine? If you just can’t get enough of good Indian cuisine, head down to Orchid Garden Hotel in Anggerek Desa where Chef Kamal and Chef Shukur whet your appetite with mouthwatering and delectable treats and flavours from Northern India for everyone to enjoy.

The Indian Food Promotion has started and will be ongoing until November 12 at the Goldiana Cafe and Lounge. For adults the price per person is $20.80 and just $12.80 for children below 12 years old. Among the number of delicacies available at the cafe are the Prata Corner where Dosai and Chapatti is cooked and served with your choice of dhall and curry.

Let’s start off with main dishes where you will be treated to various staples such as steamed fragrant rice, Indian fried noodles, Croquette ‘masala’, crispy squid ‘chilli and pepper’ and the fish curry ‘Lanka style’.For those who are up for a spicy adventure, there is the roasted lamb leg with spices and yoghurt, the Indian omelette and the ever popular Briyani rice among others.

There are also stalls that prepare specialised dishes such as the Fritters stall where you can find pakoras, wade, samosa, muruku and puri. In stall number two, you can have the Kortu with condiments such as onion, egg, green chilli or curry sauce. Don’t miss out on the rice cakes at stall three and also try out their assorted peanut ‘Indian style’ such as the fried green bean, fried channa bean, cashew nut, peanut, mix muruku, kidney bean masala, green bean masala or the chickpeas masala at stall four.

Have a Chendol with ice cream with ingredients such as red bean, kidney bean, glutinous rice ball and many others.For soup lovers, you might want to try the Mulligatowny soup, Spiced Mutton soup or Fiery rasam soup.

If you’re looking to finish off with some dessert, why not check out the three types of assorted cakes served at the cafe such as the pandan kaya cake, pineapple upside down or the ever popular carrot cake. There are also the vermicelli pudding, mini fruit tartlet pie and creme brulee available. Text by Anwar Rosly from The Brunei Times.

The promotional poster for OGH Indian Food

The Chicken Vindaloo

I highly recommend this dish – Kortu

Dosai anyone?

Anwar enjoying his meal at Goldian Cafe and Lounge

Something for dessert 🙂

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