Only about 50 per cent of the current workforce in the ICT field are locals in the private sector, while most e-government initiatives or ICT projects still rely on foreign consultants, Dato Seri Paduka Hj Eusoff Agaki Hj Ismail said.
"As we develop this process of building our human resource capacity in ICT, we will need strategic partnerships that enable the relevant stakeholders to focus on the ICT requirements for nation building," he said at the event at the International Convention Centre.
The deputy minister said that the recent establishment of the e-government National Centre by His Majesty's Government, would further open up new opportunities for local ICT practitioners.
"This will also include the consolidation of ICT human resources in the civil service," he said, adding that the move would enhance the overall effectiveness of the implementation and management of e-government initiatives.
The shortage of local ICT human resources and heavy reliance of foreign experts had affected the implementation of e-government programmes to some extent, according to the Brunei Long Term Development Plan.
Dato Eusoff Agaki believed that with proper marketing efforts and dedication of IT companies, there would be a vibrant pool of young talented local ICT professionals to meet the current and future demand of the ICT market.
"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-how," he added.
About $210 million has been allocated to enhance human capacity building and overcome shortages in ICT skills, the National Development Plan 2007-2012 stated.
The deputy minister further said that non-profit organisation Infocom Federation Brunei (IFB), organiser of the ICT Career Day, can act as a hub in a three-way strategic partnership between the government, private sector and potential qualified job seekers in ICT.
"We will need the energy, we will need collaboration, and we will need ideas of all the sectors represented here (ICT Career Day) and we will especially need the determination and drive of the many talented individuals to plan and build a future in the ICT industry," he said.
The Infocom Federation Brunei, which is made up of private local ICT companies, is currently compiling a database on Brunei's ICT industry, including training institutions and qualified professionals.
The database, dubbed Brunei ICT's Professional Human Capacity Development System, would see IFB produce and share analytical reports on local ICT human resources with relevant stakeholders.
Sheikh Ab as Sheikh Mohammed, chairman of the ICT Career Day organising committee, said that the database has been online since April 15, and about 300 job seekers have since registered.
"In the five years to come, we hope Brunei will have produced enough ICT professionals, and be ready to transform Brunei's current industrial society into information society," he said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Shareen Han
Quelle/Source: Brunei Direct, 04.05.2008
