Brunei not joining 3rd Asia IT Ministers' Summit in Bahrain
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

The Ministry of Communications yesterday announced that it would not be sending representatives to the 3rd Asia Information Technology (IT) Ministers' Summit, which will be held for two days from March 21, at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

A spokesperson said that reasons for the Sultanate's non-participation in such a high-profile event could not be disclosed.

Daily News in Bahrain had earlier reported that delegates from 35 countries, including Brunei Darussalam, have confirmed their participation while another 18 nations are expected in the next few days.

The programme, meant as a review of the industry's fresh challenges, will see the continuation of a dialogue between Asian ministers on how to develop IT infrastructure in their respective countries as well as benefit from the latest developments of global information and communications technology.

This dialogue was first started at a 2003 summit in Seoul and continued in January 2004 at Hyderabad of India.

The summit in Bahrain will review progress made since Hyderabad and evaluate new IT solutions and technologies for future alignment as well as integration of national and regional ITC development strategies.

As a side event, special booths will also be set up by Bahrain, Bangladesh, Gulf countries, Malaysia, Palestine and Tunisia to showcase their latest sophisticated products and cutting-edge solutions in their own markets.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin