The Young Entrepreneurs Association Brunei (YEAB) represented Brunei at the 11th ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival, held from 5 to 6 November 2026 at Kingsford Hotel Manila, Philippines, bringing together young entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the region to strengthen networks and explore opportunities for regional collaboration.
Brunei was represented by a five-member delegation comprising YEAB President Goh Chai Li, YEAB Vice President I Fahmiin Abdullah, YEAB Member Saifullah Safwan, entrepreneur Louis Loo and YEAB Secretariat Rasyidah Haji Zainul.
Organised by the Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA) under the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC), the carnival carried the theme “Navigating ASEAN’s Future Together: Young Entrepreneurs Driving Prosperity for All”.
A highlight of Brunei’s participation was the involvement of two YEAB representatives as speakers during the main programme on 6 November.
Image: YEAB
Goh joined the Co-Presenter’s Session titled “Good Business Foundation Panel: Turning Adversity into Hope” alongside regional business leaders Claudia Ximenes from Timor-Leste and Aisa Labastilla from the Philippines. The discussion explored how businesses can navigate challenges and build stronger foundations.
Meanwhile, Saifullah spoke during Session 2, “Navigating the Digital Shift”, which adopted a TED Talk-style format to examine the evolving digital landscape and its implications for businesses and entrepreneurs.
The two-day programme also featured discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions on the ASEAN entrepreneurial journey, cross-border trade, access to capital for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Image: YEAB
The annual carnival serves as a regional platform for young entrepreneurs to exchange experiences, build business connections and explore opportunities beyond their respective markets. Following last year’s edition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Manila hosted the 11th edition, with Singapore set to host the next carnival in 2027 following the official handover of the AYEC chairmanship during the closing programme.
Through its participation, YEAB continues to strengthen Brunei’s presence within the ASEAN entrepreneurial ecosystem while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to establish regional connections, exchange knowledge and explore cross-border partnerships.
Further information on YEAB’s activities is available through its official social media account, @yeabrunei, and website, www.yeabrunei.com.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
