Sultan Urges Apec To Boost ICT Usage

Bangkok - Upholding the tremendous progress made in Information Communications Technology (ICT) since the meeting in 2000, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei yesterday urged Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders to endeavour on tripling Internet users in the region by 2005.

Speaking at the Retreat Session of Apec leaders in Bangkok, the Brunei leader said it was essential today for the people to have basic skills to cope with the new technology.

His Majesty said as far as Brunei was concerned it was facing a whole set of new challenges.

"Over the four years Brunei was able to double the figure of the population that have access to the Internet," he added.

A press release from the Prime Minister's Office last night stated:

His Majesty started the discussion by stressing the importance of the information and Communication Technology (ICT). His Majesty recalled that when Leaders met in 2000, they agreed to provide Internet access for all by 2010.

His Majesty was pleased to see some outstanding progress on this area. His Majesty stated that it would be a tremendous progress if Apec could triple the number of Internet users by 2005.

His Majesty further stated that as far as Brunei was concerned, it was facing a whole set of new challenges. Over the two years, Brunei was able to double the figure of the population that have access to the Internet.

The ongoing projects were encouraging, which included e-government, e-learning and ways to provide for the rural areas. His Majesty noted that like other technology, the Internet was continuously evolving. In addition, government, business, schools and ordinary citizens always wanted a more sophisticated access, and this provided a dilemma as to the best technology required.

His Majesty then stressed the critical role of human capacity building in reaching the ICT goals. His Majesty emphasised that it was absolutely essential today for the people to have the basic skills to cope with new technology.

This was where His Majesty felt that a closely focused and comprehensive ICT training and education programme would bring technical skills directly to the people, and help them in their day to day needs.

This required the government, business sectors, and education and training institutions to work very closely together.

His Majesty suggested that more developed members of Apec who were well ahead of others on ICT could impart their experiences on how best to approach the issue.

Following the Retreat, His Majesty joined other Apec leaders to a working luncheon where the leaders continued their discussions. One of the issues discussed was counter-terrorism.

His Majesty together with other Apec economic leaders then attended the Reading of the Leaders' Declaration by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Chair of this year's Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM).

His Majesty left Bangkok yesterday afternoon upon completion of the summit. Before departure, the "doa selamat" prayer was read by the State Mufti.

Present at the airport to bid farewell to His Majesty were Korn Dabaransi, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and other officials of the Thai Government. Also at the airport to hid farewell were Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos bin Haji Mohd Hussein, Ambassador of Brunei to Thailand and officials of the Embassy of Brunei in Bangkok. The next AELM will be held in Chile in November 2001.  -- Borneo Bulletin

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Related Info: APEC Special Report | APEC Bangkok 2003

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