Seri Nova Food, a private company promoting Bruneian products is looking to automate the sultanate’s rural-based food processing industry in an effort to uplift traditional food quality to an internationally competitive level.
Managing Partner Jessie Lim said Seri Nova Food has been promoting Brunei-made products, particularly those under the national One Village One Product (OVOP) initiative for more than five years through value-added packaging and marketing.
“However, we had to take a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic as global logistics and supplies were heavily affected, it caused processing disruptions with majority of the Village Consultative Councils (MPKs) that we engaged with,” she said.
“Though we have seen improvements in the general state of things among the MPKs, a good number of them have mentioned some disruptions in material availability which is an ongoing obstacle, so that is unfortunate,” she added.
Operating mainly at the Transit Hall of the Brunei International Airport, Lim noted how the sultanate’s traditional foods like Kuih Sapit remain popular among tourists departing the country, consequently highlighting its potential in the international market.
With this in mind, Lim shared that Seri Nova Food is looking into setting up a small factory this year, to mass-produce traditional Bruneian foods to meet the current market demand and potentially, breach the export market.
“Aside from the decrease in production from MPKs, due to the lack of material availability, having a consistent supply of these products has always remained an issue for us,” the Managing Partner explained.
She added that the introduction of machines and automation may prove to be vital for the industry’s survival, as it ensures that the legacy of these MPK producers will be continued, regardless of what changes the industry may face in the future.
Lim then went on to say that Seri Nova Food has already identified the suitable machinery necessary for its new enterprising project and is currently in the process of identifying the appropriate MPK to operate it.
“We plan on operating the factory in collaboration with a particular MPK. They do not need to fork up any capital, as we plan to run the factory on a profit-sharing basis. So we intend on engaging with our MPK network to find the right partner to do business with,” she added.
Though no timeline has been set, Lim expressed Seri Nova Food’s commitment to uplifting Brunei-made products, intending to not only upgrade its packaging and marketing strategies, but also opening up a second branch.
OVOP is an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Home Affairs that aims to reinvigorate Brunei’s mukims and villages by giving MPKs the opportunity to independently develop, produce and market their own signature products and services.
Wafi Wasil
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
MEDIASTAR
