CSi Belait: BSP holds sessions for local SMEs

IN A continuous effort to develop local business development, the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company (BSP) has rolled out the Coaching Scheme Initiative (CSi) programme for the second time since its debut last year.

The CSi serves as a platform for the local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their businesses to support Brunei's economic diversification efforts.

This year some 40 local SMEs attended the programme briefing at the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre in Seria to get a feel of what the programme had to offer.

According to the course coordinator Stephen Song, the participants were expected to go through eight workshops in the span of eight months where their businesses and practices will go through a rigorous field test to ensure that everything was in top form and whether or not any of their efforts needed to be improved.

The programme will also be assigning internationally recognised coaches to assist participants in their efforts to enhance their business capabilities, competencies and competitiveness.

BSP's Deputy Managing Director Hj Zainal Abidin Hj Mohd Ali in his opening speech welcoming the participants yesterday said: "This is part of BSP's effort towards supporting local businesses and gearing them towards sustainability and best practices. It aims to make them more knowledgeable in mitigating their situation, embed the necessary skills and know how to sustain their businesses in the long run."

This programme will assist participating local SMEs to benchmark their current company operations to the industry's best practice and also create opportunities to network with other business partners and help achieve their business goals.

During the first cycle intake, larger vendors such as SKS/JO, Petrokon Utama, SKS Wood Sdn Bhd, Baiduri Bank and Mashhor Group have shared the benefits of their business practices with CSi participants.

The CSi platform offers an opportunity for contractors to enhance their business and management skills, health, safety and environment (HSE) competence and strategic planning.

BSP is currently providing this opportunity as part of its commitment towards building the local economy and the long term sustainability of the country.

The Brunei Times