"I was made to understand that today's event was built upon an India-Brunei ICT panel discussion held last month on the scope and potential for cooperation in ICT between our two countries including ways in which India and Brunei can work together in further developing our respective ICT industries."
The minister spoke at the opening of the workshop yesterday at the AiTi premises. The facilitator of the workshop was Mr Brian Galbraith from India, who worked together with the participants on finding the most practical ways of translating the MoU between the two countries into tangible results."India as we know is now one of the growing ICT power houses in the world, gaining increasing visibility and relevance in the global ICT sector.
"The growth has been phenomenal whereby India is not only well known in producing quality IT graduates but also in exporting software technologies and applications. ICT research and development in India is also flourishing at the technology parks in Hyderabad and Bangalore," he said.
He further pointed out India's initiatives in addressing the needs of its multifaceted challenges that includes addressing multiple languages, cultures, literacy level and religions.
Another significant challenge, added the minister, is also ensuring that ICT is accessible and affordable within the reach of all citizens be it in the city or rural areas, which are by no means, not an easy feat and that there are certainly a lot to be learned from India.
"India's phenomenal development is certainly of great relevance to Brunei Darussalam. Therefore, I view the cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and India as embodied in the MoU with great significance, whereby we can intensify our collaboration with our Indian counterparts on areas of great priorities and mutual interests."
Such priorities and mutual interests are building human resources ICT capacity across industry, government and society joint product and service development including development including the development of a new software and applications on shared intellectual property basis, practical industry development including the `twinning' of Brunei-based business with more advanced enterprises in India, joint research and development between respective teaching and training institutions and joint product promotion and marketing initiatives.
Recognising the challenges faced by new and small players in the competitive ICT market, the minister highlighted that in a global environment, it is very difficult for players like them to make achievements on their own but together and in the spirit of bilateral cooperation, their ICT players can explore the vast ICT markets, internally as well as beyond their borders.
Pleased with yesterday's development where ICT players of Brunei and India have a common platform for them to learn from their `mature' counterparts and leverage on their experience and extensive networks and channels, he noted that the government will continue to strive in making an environment that is most conducive for the growth and development of their industry players.
"It is the private sector that has to take up the challenges and fuel growth of the industry and I sincerely hope that the local players are taking full advantage of this opportunity," he said.
"I am pleased with the outcome of the meeting held yesterday at the Ministry of Communications which entailed for a closer collaboration and coordination in the field of capacity-building specifically in the areas of governance and industry development as well as e-government."
He also expressed confidence that the dialogue yesterday will strengthen and intensify their collaboration, government and private sector alike.
Yesterday's event began with the recital of surah al-fatihah and a welcoming note by the Indian High Commissioner to the Country, R V Warjri. Also present were Additional Secretary Department of Information Technology India Rakesh Singh and Permanent Secretary at the minister of communications Awg Hj Alaihuddin POKDSL Dato Seri Utama Hj Awg Mohd Taha.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Lyna Mohammad
Quelle/Source: Brunei Direct, 19.02.2010
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