Issue 1 2021

CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 1 2021 7 Serving Brunei through Islamic Solutions currencies and to make donations, among others. The challenge of COVID-19 has hit every industry, but what has encouraged Mr. Khokhar is that the values, ethos and commitment of his team have never wavered. He has led the team through the crisis by putting the health of his staff and his customers first and foremost. Most important to surviving this once-in-a-lifetime event was the establishment of a COVID-19 Task Force to ensure a coordinated and holistic response to the pandemic. This targeted approach meant that the team were able to offer a collective economic relief package amounting to BND250 million for a period of 12 months, which was very well supported by our Honourable Chairman and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance & Economy II. Amidst the shutdown of public events and restaurants in Brunei Darussalam, it was BIBD that provided the vital assistance that MSMEs needed to digitise their businesses and establishing a strong online presence. Leveraging technology to bring communities together in a time of crisis is one of the most hopeful things the firm could do, encouraging a digitalised society powered by a cashless economy. MSMEs were charged nothing for this key service that has helped to keep the economy flourishing in the region. With such a strong history of success in innovation, it’s not surprising that this approach will guide the next steps of BIBD. The mission for Brunei is to become a dynamic and developed economy by 2035, and this bank has a major role to play in that achievement. Obviously, the pandemic has forced digitalisation on many industries and businesses, and the team at BIBD is determined to embrace the potential of this new format. Mr. Khokhar has already put core teams into place that will carry out these plans and bring them to fruition. This includes the plan for the creation of a group-wide Data Warehouse Facility which is slated for completion in 2021. This core project that will feed all of BIBD’s future ambitions and initiatives. The digital step forward will include optimising the use of data and metadata – which will facilitate interoperability and resource integration. Some banks are inherently stagnant, but the team at BIBD is nimble and agile in the extreme. They know just how to move in order to make the most of a situation. With ambitious plans ahead, and an eye already on the next move, it’s clear that they have found the ideal CEO in the form of Mubashar Khokhar Company: Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Contact: Adina Hj Azahari Website: www.bibd.com.bn