The 12th Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Home Showcase Festival kicked off yesterday at the bank’s Kiulap branch, showcasing to visitors the benefits of home ownership and acting as a one-stop venue catering to current and prospective homeowners.

Minister of Home Affairs cum Deputy Chairman of Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD)’s Board of Directors Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong officiated the event.

Officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and BIBD senior management and personnel were also in attendance.

Visitors got an exclusive glimpse into the bank’s digital capabilities, and were able to implement the concept of their dream home and see it through virtual reality. Properties offered by partnering realtors were also put up for virtual viewing.

Of note during the event was the renaming of the BIBD Financing Centre to BIBD Kiulap Home Centre, specially done for the festival. The BIBD Kiulap Home Centre is the bank’s second Home Centre after its first in Panaga. This is to centralise BIBD’s home financing solutions wing under one single roof for the convenience of clients.

Besides providing home ownership information to visitors, the event also served as a platform for local entrepreneurs, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), partnering realtors and home developers to showcase their products and services.

Representatives from the Authority for Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) meanwhile, were on hand to tend to visitors’ queries on home construction. The two Fabular smart home units on display in particular, drew a lot of attention.

Also featured at the event was local vendor’s Tarbiyyah Global’s Islamic-driven enrichment programme, which adopts a ‘Play-and-Pray’ approach in encouraging the learning and understanding of Islam through a fun educational system based on Al-Quran and Hadiths.

BIBD Head of Retail Banking Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Md Jaafar said of the festival, “Home ownership can be one of the most momentous decisions of your life, a chance to plant your roots, and invest in a sustainable future. BIBD strives to walk beside you throughout every step of your journey towards realising your dream home, streamlining complex processes, and offering various conveniences along the way. At the same time, BIBD remains committed to supporting the development of local MSMEs and entrepreneurs in accordance to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Vision 2035 by providing them platforms for growth.”