OPENING AND MAIN ADDRESS BY
YANG MULIA DATO SERI PADUKA EUSSOFF AGAKI HAJI ISMAIL,
DEPUTY MINISTER AT THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE,
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
DURING THE OPENING OF THE BRUNEI ICT CAREER DAY 2008
at
The International Convention Centre (ICC), Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
On 3rd May 2008
YANG MULIA DATO SERI PADUKA EUSSOFF AGAKI HAJI ISMAIL,
DEPUTY MINISTER AT THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE,
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
DURING THE OPENING OF THE BRUNEI ICT CAREER DAY 2008
at
The International Convention Centre (ICC), Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
On 3rd May 2008
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Aalameen, Wassalatu Wassalamu 'Ala Asyrafil Anbiae Walmursaleen, Sayyidina Muhammaddin, Wa'ala Aalihiee Wasahbihee Ajma'een.
Yang Mulia, Pg Haji Mohammad bin Pg Kamaluddin, Chairman of the Infocom Federation of Brunei Darussalam (IFB);
Yang Mulia, Sheikh Abas Sheikh Mohammed, Chairman of the organizing committee for the Brunei ICT Career Day 2008;
Yang Amat Mulia,
Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil bin Pengiran Syed Haji Jaafari;
Yang Berhormat,
Excellencies;
Permanent Secretaries;
Deputy Permanent Secretaries;
Heads of Departments;
Senior Officials;
Representatives of the private sector;
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh, and a very good morning to everyone.
Let me begin by extending my appreciation and thanks to Yang Mulia, Pg Haji Mohammad bin Pg Kamaluddin and the Infocom Federation of Brunei Darussalam for inviting me here this morning to deliver the opening remarks for the The First Brunei ICT Career Day 2008.
It is certainly a great pleasure for me to be here this morning and my sincere thanks also go to the members of the organizing committee and all those hard work and dedication in making this inaugural Brunei ICT Career Day 2008 a successful reality.
I would also like to warmly welcome the many guests and participants to this auspicious event.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When the idea behind this event was first conceived, I am certain that its organisers asked themselves how they could distinguish today’s Career Day from other ICT related events.
They knew that the ICT Career Day interest of a diverse range of stakeholders from the public, private and educational sectors.
And they knew that the outcome from it would have to be significant to our nation, our economy and our future.
In this regard, let me very briefly share some thoughts on what I see as Infocom Federation and this event are relevant to the strategies and policies that are required to drive the development of our nation, particularly in the ICT sector.
Let us first consider this from a Human Resources strategic perspective.
Our nation does not as yet have a critical mass of local ICT talent that is ICT expertise. As of today, only about 50% of the current workforce in the field of ICT is filled by locals in the private sector and in addition most ICT projects or e-government initiatives still rely on foreign consultants.
With this in mind, today’s Career Day is intended to be first and foremost, a platform and catalyst for matching the professionals and the industry needs in Brunei Darussalam.
We have a young, well educated population who are technologically savvy, and I believe that with the correct marketing efforts and the dedication of the organisers, we will see a vibrant pool of young talented local ICT exponents being identified at this event to meet the current demand as well as the future needs of the ICT industry.
This pool will become the foundation for our home grown base of ICT experts that will eventually meet and aspire to exceed worldwide standards in ICT know-hows.
As we develop this process of ICT, we will need strategic partnerships that enable the relevant stakeholders to focus on the ICT requirements for nation building.
This is the second area where the Infocom Federation can come into play by acting as the hub in a three way strategic partnership between the government, the private sector and potential qualified ICT professional job seekers.
With the support of the relevant public and private sector agencies, and the opportunities offered by today’s ICT Career Day, I am confident that the Infocom Federation’s role can be further augmented to include crucial areas like the matching of ICT skill requirements to potential qualified ICT professional job seekers.
With the support of the relevant public and private sector agencies, and the opportunities offered by today’s ICT Career Day, I am confident that the Infocom Federation’s role can be further augmented to include crucial areas like the matching of ICT skill requirements to
This brings me to the third area where the Infocom Federation can collaborate with other ICT stakeholders in analysing the nations ICT Skills Requirements.
I understand that the Infocom Federation will be working with participating training centres to compile a database on the various components of the ICT industry namely the ICT companies, ICT training institutions and ICT qualified personnel and professionals in the industry. This database will be shared with relevant agencies.
I’ve also been made to understand that such database will include recommendations on the necessary skill sets and knowledge that can be taken up by educational institutions as an important input from the Infocom Federation.
This is a good example of how collaborative efforts can develop information that is of great strategic value to the relevant stakeholders, which in this case includes educators, employers and “would be” employees.
These three areas of strategic collaboration and facilitation come together to set the stage in preparing the final area, where Infocom Federation can play a role in the national e-Government Initiative.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the 1st of April this year, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to the formation of a new government agency under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The new agency known as the “e-Government National Centre” or EGNC was established as part of the continuous efforts of His Majesty’s Government to enhance the overall effectiveness of the implementation and management of e-Government initiatives.
This will also include the consolidation of ICT human resources in the civil service. Thus, the move will also open up some new employment opportunities for our local pool of ICT talent.
This is why I feel that today’s event marks the beginning, of what will be a very successful partnership between the Infocom Federation and the other ICT stakeholders, towards a win-win situation for both our ICT industry and our e-government initiatives.
No doubt, there is still much to do in order to achieve a successful outcome for today’s Career Day.
We will need the energy, we will need collaboration, and we will need ideas of all the sectors represented here today and we will especially need the determination and drive of the many talented individuals who have come here to plan and build a future in the ICT industry.
I invite you all to join us in building a stronger more vibrant future in ICT for Brunei Darussalam.
With the kalimah BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHIM, it is my great pleasure to declare the Brunei ICT Career Day 2008 open.
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Aalameen, Wassalatu Wassalamu 'Ala Asyrafil Anbiae Walmursaleen, Sayyidina Muhammaddin, Wa'ala Aalihiee Wasahbihee Ajma'een.
Yang Mulia, Pg Haji Mohammad bin Pg Kamaluddin, Chairman of the Infocom Federation of Brunei Darussalam (IFB);
Yang Mulia, Sheikh Abas Sheikh Mohammed, Chairman of the organizing committee for the Brunei ICT Career Day 2008;
Yang Amat Mulia,
Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil bin Pengiran Syed Haji Jaafari;
Yang Berhormat,
Excellencies;
Permanent Secretaries;
Deputy Permanent Secretaries;
Heads of Departments;
Senior Officials;
Representatives of the private sector;
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuh, and a very good morning to everyone.
Let me begin by extending my appreciation and thanks to Yang Mulia, Pg Haji Mohammad bin Pg Kamaluddin and the Infocom Federation of Brunei Darussalam for inviting me here this morning to deliver the opening remarks for the The First Brunei ICT Career Day 2008.
It is certainly a great pleasure for me to be here this morning and my sincere thanks also go to the members of the organizing committee and all those hard work and dedication in making this inaugural Brunei ICT Career Day 2008 a successful reality.
I would also like to warmly welcome the many guests and participants to this auspicious event.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When the idea behind this event was first conceived, I am certain that its organisers asked themselves how they could distinguish today’s Career Day from other ICT related events.
They knew that the ICT Career Day interest of a diverse range of stakeholders from the public, private and educational sectors.
And they knew that the outcome from it would have to be significant to our nation, our economy and our future.
In this regard, let me very briefly share some thoughts on what I see as Infocom Federation and this event are relevant to the strategies and policies that are required to drive the development of our nation, particularly in the ICT sector.
Let us first consider this from a Human Resources strategic perspective.
Our nation does not as yet have a critical mass of local ICT talent that is ICT expertise. As of today, only about 50% of the current workforce in the field of ICT is filled by locals in the private sector and in addition most ICT projects or e-government initiatives still rely on foreign consultants.
With this in mind, today’s Career Day is intended to be first and foremost, a platform and catalyst for matching the professionals and the industry needs in Brunei Darussalam.
We have a young, well educated population who are technologically savvy, and I believe that with the correct marketing efforts and the dedication of the organisers, we will see a vibrant pool of young talented local ICT exponents being identified at this event to meet the current demand as well as the future needs of the ICT industry.
This pool will become the foundation for our home grown base of ICT experts that will eventually meet and aspire to exceed worldwide standards in ICT know-hows.
As we develop this process of ICT, we will need strategic partnerships that enable the relevant stakeholders to focus on the ICT requirements for nation building.
This is the second area where the Infocom Federation can come into play by acting as the hub in a three way strategic partnership between the government, the private sector and potential qualified ICT professional job seekers.
With the support of the relevant public and private sector agencies, and the opportunities offered by today’s ICT Career Day, I am confident that the Infocom Federation’s role can be further augmented to include crucial areas like the matching of ICT skill requirements to potential qualified ICT professional job seekers.
With the support of the relevant public and private sector agencies, and the opportunities offered by today’s ICT Career Day, I am confident that the Infocom Federation’s role can be further augmented to include crucial areas like the matching of ICT skill requirements to
This brings me to the third area where the Infocom Federation can collaborate with other ICT stakeholders in analysing the nations ICT Skills Requirements.
I understand that the Infocom Federation will be working with participating training centres to compile a database on the various components of the ICT industry namely the ICT companies, ICT training institutions and ICT qualified personnel and professionals in the industry. This database will be shared with relevant agencies.
I’ve also been made to understand that such database will include recommendations on the necessary skill sets and knowledge that can be taken up by educational institutions as an important input from the Infocom Federation.
This is a good example of how collaborative efforts can develop information that is of great strategic value to the relevant stakeholders, which in this case includes educators, employers and “would be” employees.
These three areas of strategic collaboration and facilitation come together to set the stage in preparing the final area, where Infocom Federation can play a role in the national e-Government Initiative.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the 1st of April this year, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to the formation of a new government agency under the Prime Minister’s Office.
The new agency known as the “e-Government National Centre” or EGNC was established as part of the continuous efforts of His Majesty’s Government to enhance the overall effectiveness of the implementation and management of e-Government initiatives.
This will also include the consolidation of ICT human resources in the civil service. Thus, the move will also open up some new employment opportunities for our local pool of ICT talent.
This is why I feel that today’s event marks the beginning, of what will be a very successful partnership between the Infocom Federation and the other ICT stakeholders, towards a win-win situation for both our ICT industry and our e-government initiatives.
No doubt, there is still much to do in order to achieve a successful outcome for today’s Career Day.
We will need the energy, we will need collaboration, and we will need ideas of all the sectors represented here today and we will especially need the determination and drive of the many talented individuals who have come here to plan and build a future in the ICT industry.
I invite you all to join us in building a stronger more vibrant future in ICT for Brunei Darussalam.
With the kalimah BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHIM, it is my great pleasure to declare the Brunei ICT Career Day 2008 open.