Capacity Building To Boost ICT Competitiveness
By Azrol Azmi, James Kon and Sonia K.

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Minister of Communications, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar, yesterday stressed the importance of capacity building in enhancing ICT competitiveness.

He made several points at the official opening of the 6th ASEAN Telecommunications and information Technology Ministers (TELMIN) Meeting held at the International Conference Centre in Berakas.

He noted that in the 6th ASEAN TELMIN meeting, the ministers will discuss and endorse the Brunei Action Plan.

`In the Brunei Action Plan, we will embody our commitments to enhance our competitiveness through capacity building. We will undertake initiatives aimed towards strengthening the participation of our important and vital partner, the private sector", said the minister.

"We will also seek to develop ASEAN professional ICT skills standards and the knowledge-based workers in the region, facilitate cross-border electronic transactions as well as enhance the potential of our youth by addressing their needs in human capacity building aspects of software and content development and as well as e-learning", the minister added.

The meeting is being held at the Empire Hotel and Country Club for two days starting yesterday and brings together not only ministers responsible for telecommunications and information technology in ASEAN member countries, but also welcomes the involvement of dialogue partners, China, India, Japan and Korea.

The 6th TELMIN meeting is a timely event for Brunei to host, since the country's ICT industry has achieved a significant milestone with the corporatisation of Telecommunications Department (JTB) now known as Telbru in April this year and the establishment of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AiTi) as the regulatory authority in the Sultanate. This year's TELMIN Meeting carries the theme "Enhancing ICT Competitiveness: Capacity Building". The theme is chosen in recognition of the rapid evolution of ICT industry which calls for every country not only within ASEAN but also throughout the world to develop and enhance its own ICT capabilities and human resource development.

Stressing the importance of capacity building in enhancing ICT competitiveness, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar said, "Through the ASEAN TELSOM Working Groups, we have come across many initiatives and projects which lead to capacity building. We have seen many innovations and initiatives in promoting universal access and bridging digital divide among the ASEAN countries as well as addressing these issues within the society."

These initiatives and projects reflect the desire to educate the people and equipping them with the skills and knowledge to achieve the maximum potential and improve the standards of living and these initiatives are complemented with projects on the development of an e-society such as e-learning and positive use of the Internet.

Recognising the important role of business sector and youth as the engine to promote the development of Information Technology, the 3" e-ASEAN Business Council Meeting and the e-Youth forum Programme are organised alongside the Ministerial Meeting, where reports of their meetings will be presented to ASEAN TELMIN. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with