SPEECH BY
H.E. PEHIN ORANG KAYA AMAR PAHLAWAN
DATO SERI SETIA AWANG HAJI ZAKARIA BIN
DATU MAHAWANGSA AWANG HAJI SULAIMAN
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
At
The Business Matching Session
Dewan Amar Pahlawan,
Ministry of Communications
Monday, 09th September, 2002
                                                                                                                

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Assalamu 'Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
And a very Good Afternoon,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me first thank the Organizer of the event for inviting me as Guest-of-Honour for this afternoon. I am indeed honored to be given this opportunity to say a few words.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Our Australian friends - delegates attending the Asia Pacific Information Communications Technology Awards in Kuala Lumpur to Brunei. I am happy and excited that you have decided to call on us and I hope your visit will be useful and informative.

The Asia Pacific ICT awards has become the annual event - one of the international awards recognizing innovation and creativity of innovators within the Asia Pacific region. This awards will undoubtedly help stimulate the economic and trade relations, technology transfer, business matching opportunities, exposure to venture capitalists/investors and increasing community awareness in the region. Brunei Darussalam also is in the process of establishing a National ICT Award and we look forward to host the APICTA in 2005.

Brunei Darussalam, like other Asia Pacific countries is committed to enhance its capacity and competitiveness in meeting the challenges of the increasingly globalize and ICT driven economy. His Majesty's Government has committed a total of B$1 billion in e-Government and ICT projects for the 8th Development Plan. This reflects the serious efforts of the Government to move the country into the new world of Information Technology.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Brunei Darussalam as in other countries has taken various initiatives in trying to position itself to be the regional hubs and centers in Info- Communication Technology. In the Ministry of Communications, we are taking lead in developing our own Software Park, that is Eco-Cyber Park. The Eco-Cyber Park will serve as an incubator for dynamic development of IT and Telecommunications services and we hope to attract foreign investments, particularly in software development. This project we hope can help us move forward in our efforts to embrace and broaden usage of ICT in our daily lives - in business, as well as in government, education, health and in the society in general.

I hope this business matching session held this afternoon will help to create business opportunities for private sectors who are involved in driving the ICT industry to expand their business by joint venture or other cooperation with the Australian companies. Australia, as we know, is quite advance in this industry and Australian entrepreneurs are sought after, not only in the region, but also elsewhere. In this business matching session, you will have the opportunities to meet our entrepreneurs, young and eager to talk with you. This is a new world and it is wide open. Our bilateral relations is good and I am sure, you can find something you can work together and develop this further.

Last but not least, let me conclude my brief remarks by thanking the organizer and once again, I wish to welcome our Australian friends. I wish your visit to Brunei Darussalam - the Kingdom of Unexpected Treasures - interesting as well as beneficial. We look forward to see more of you in the not too distant future.

Wabillahitaufik Walhidayah Wassalamualaikum Warrahmatullahi
Wabarakatuh.