Brunei Welcomes Canadian ICT Actors
By Fei Phoon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bruneian companies are being encouraged to pick up on opportunities to reel in foreign investors, in hopes of introducing a competitive culture to the local information and communications technology industry.

"We warmly welcome such links and relationships, particularly from investors to come to Brunei Darussalam, not just to implement your programmes and activities but preferably to forge alliances with our local players," said Minister of Communications Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Awg Abu Bakar Apong in his keynote address at yesterday's Canadian ICT Capabilities Seminar.

The minister then shared his views on a visit he had made to Canada last May. He had been particularly impressed with what had been achieved with the Waterloo Region, also known as Canada's Technology Triangle, and attributed its success to close cooperation between the government, businesses and academic institutions.

He described how the whole Canadian towns had transformed their traditional industries to accommodate one of the world's most lucrative economies - ICT. One of Canada's most famous ICT products is the Black Berry organiser.

Leopold Battel stated that the ICT industry in Canada (32,000 ICT companies) is worth close to C$61 billion ($81.29 billion) The event presented opportunity for eight leading Canadian ICT companies to promote their innovations to Bruneians in both the public and private sector.

An estimated 120 individuals learnt of the cutting-edge technologies available on the market to aid them in their businesses. Among the invited companies were Diagnos, resource detection softwares for mining, oil and gas exploration projects, and Mitel, provider of IP telephony systems, the use of which are proliferating in the United Kingdom's government sector.

In support of strengthening the private sector, the Bruneian government announced the corporatisation of the Telecommunications Department into Telekom Brunei Berhad last April and the formation of an agency, the Authority for Infocommunications Technology Industry (AiTi), dedicated to the regulation and development of the ICT industry.

"With ... the establishment of our regulator, we are now further able to explore more ways to help our private sector gain a more secure and sustainable footing in the ICT industry, not just domestically, but also regionally and internationally," said the minister.

He also confirmed that the e-Government plan had undergone a review this year in preparation for 2006 to 2010. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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