This figure was revealed by Pehin Dato PadukaAwg Hj Hazair bin Hj Abdullah, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office during the launching of the 1st Technology Update Seminar held at the Ministry of Finance. Up to March this year, about 199 e-Government projects have been approved for implementation by the e-Government Executive Committee costing about $742 million or 80 per cent of the total allocation, he said.
There are also about 49 e-Government projects that have been approved by the State Tender Board for implementation. It is expected that the board will approve more e-Government projects in 2005.
The government has identified the need for 1,500 skilled workers in ICT to implement and maintain the e-Government systems.
In this respect, Pehin Dato Paduka Awg Hj Hazair said that according to statistics, the development of local ICT companies in the past five years from 2001 to 2005 has shown an increase. Eighty ICT companies including joint ventures with foreign ICT companies have been registered in the country.
This has opened up employment opportunities for 600 to 700 locals until early 2005, he added.
The development is a positive sign of the awareness of these local companies to support the government intentions and provides signs that there are employment opportunities for locals skilled in ICT especially through the implementation of e-Government programmes, he said.
Talking on the seminar, Pehin Dato Paduka Awg Hj Hazair said that it gave the opportunity for deeper understanding on e-Government by updating the information on the latest technology and business solutions which will later help in providing quality, cost effective and trusted services.
The seminar organised by SHINBA Integrated Engineering Services and Edaran Digital Sdn Bhd will be held every two months. Also present at the seminar was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Awg Hj Ali bin Apong.
Autor: M K Anwar
Quelle: Brunei Direct, 28.04.2005
