Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong said that the ESLF will be tasked to prepare an action plan that will lead towards the development of a "sophisticated society".
"ESLF will also identify a benchmark partner for e-Society initiatives so that we are able to see and address our shortcomings while making the most of our strengths," he said during a ceremony to mark World Telecommunication and information Society Day.
It is hoped that the formation of ESLF, together with the E-Government Leadership Forum and E-Business Leadership Forum will strengthen the pillars to support Brunei's ICT development, he added.
The minister said that Brunei will continue to pursue infrastructural development as one of the strategies to support the growth of the !CT industry.
Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar said the launch of the Asia-America Gateway on April 14, 2010 signifies a milestone in the effort to ensure a continuous and secure international connectivity.
Asia-America Gateway is a direct 20,000 kilometres high bandwidth fibre optic submarine cable system linking Southeast Asia with the USA mainland and across the Pacific Ocean.
However, he said that it is also important to prepare for new content and applications, particularly those suitable in the Sultanate and in line with Brunei's Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy.
The minister further said that Brunei should not be complacent even though the Sultanate maintained its 63rd ranking on e-readiness in the European Institute of Business Administration's Global information Technology Report 2009-2010.
"The areas of improvement continue to exist and need to be addressed. We need to step up our initiatives and strategies in order to improve our position and more importantly to improve our life," he added.
He emphasised the need to leverage the potential of ICT in improving the quality of lives. "In order to assess the situation or the environment that we live in, it is vital for us to benchmark ourselves against our colleagues and peers. We should also be able to accept with an open mind the views of the outsiders who are looking in at us."
Organised by the Authority for Info-Communication Technology Industry (AiTi), the ceremony to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day aims to raise awareness of the possibilities of Internet use and ways to bridge the digital divide.
Observed every May 17, this year's celebration, themed "Better City, Better Life with ICTs", highlights ways of managing cities in an increasingly converged information society.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Rasidah Hab
Quelle/Source: Brunei Direct, 27.05.2010
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