Brunei Hosts PASOLS Seminar
By Lyna Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The 33rd Pacific Area Senior Officers Logistic Seminar (PASOLS) annual meeting will discuss topics on Joint Logistics, Industry Support to Defence Logistics, Management of Logistic Resources and Restructuring and Privatisation, a press communique from the Ministry of Defence said yesterday.

Expert speakers from PASOLS member nations would also be discussing matters on enterprise system, logistics IT relating to logistics initiatives to support the defence logistic industry, it added.

Brunei's delegation is headed by Dyg Hjh Suriyah Hj Umar, the Director of Finance and Procurement, Ministry of Defence.

Some 102 participants from the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region of the PASOLS' 25 member countries are attending the four-day seminar.

Hosting the event for the very first time, Brunei Darussalam has been an active participant in the seminar.

This year's occasion demonstrates that the sultanate is capable of hosting PASOLS. The seminar would provide a driving tool to share knowledge and expertise available in developing excellent regional and international logistics cooperation.

It fosters personnel interactions in assisting Brunei in the Defence Logistics Development. The gathering would also help the country to promote its tourism industry proving that PASOLS is relevant to smaller nations like Brunei Darussalam.

An annual conference sponsored by Headquarters United States Commander-In-Chief Pacific Area Command (HQ USCINPAC), PASOLS is an apolitical, multinational, multi-service, and defence departmental forum for senior logistics officers from the Asian, Pacific and Indian ocean regions.

Its objectives are to exchange and discuss new ideas and review logistics initiatives introduced by their regional neighbours. Each PASOLS member and a small group of observers are invited to the annual conference conducted in August or September and hosted by a member nation on behalf of all members.

The traditional format of the conference are presentations addressing different aspects of the theme for the year, discussion groups which explore a given subject in depth and present recommendations for action and a recreational programme which helps members develop a better understanding of each other's situation. The interpersonal relationship, which allows members to formally discuss matters of mutual concern outside the meetings, is one of the great strengths of PASOLS.

PASOLS has a "Programme Development Committee" that meets annually to plan the PASOLS work programme and annual conference. Discussion groups and other PASOLS activities produce recommendations for action. Several "Forums" or "Work Groups" have been developed.

"PASOLS will continue to be a forum among the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions defence forces in enhancing and delivering the need to a robust and efficient logistics system with nations working together as close teammates in providing logistics assistance when needed."

Participating in the seminar are senior officers from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Cambodia, Fiji, Korea, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Thailand, United States and host Brunei Darussalam. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News