Deputy Sultan at BICTA Awards

Receiving an award from the Deputy Sultan, Crown Prince HRH Pg Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pg Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan last night presented Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2004 at the Royal Berkshire Hall, Jerudong Park Country Club. His Royal Highness is also the Royal Patron of BICTA BICTA is organised to encourage innovation and creativity especially among the locals in Brunei. It is a chance for local ICT companies and educational institutions to create and invent their own ICT applications. His Royal Highness presented awards to winners of eight categories. Accompanying the Deputy Sultan was HRH Prince Abdul Malik.

The Minister of Communications, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Zakaria, greeted the Royalty on arrival at the awards ceremony.

In a speech by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Pehin Dato Paduka Hj Abdullah who is also the Chairperson of the BICTA Steering Committee, he said twelve categories competed in the BICTA, which covered four 'domains' namely the Government Domain, Industry Domain, Education Domain and Consumer Domain.

A total of 41 participants competed in this year's BICTA and more than half of them are students.

This, said the Permanent Secretary showed a high level of ICT being used among youth. Winners of each category received B$1,000 and a trophy as well as return air tickets and a five-night stay in Hong Kong.

First place winners in each category will also represent Brunei at the Asia-Pacific ICT Awards 2004 in Hong Kong in December. This in turn will give the winners an opportunity to gain experience and exposure at an international level.

This first ever BICTA was organised by the Ministry of Communications and supported by the Authority of Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AiTi), Brunei Information Technology Council Secretariat (BIT) and the Brunei Darussalam Computer Society.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

By M K Anwar

27 Nov 2004