Izah Azahari
The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Brunei presented its 2021 Chairmanship report to Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah on Saturday.
As ABAC follows the ASEAN leaders’ order of succession, ABAC Brunei assumed the chairmanship with the theme ‘Recover, Stronger, Together, Sama-Sama’ during the Brunei year. ABAC Brunei member Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman was the chairperson.
“It has been a truly incredible and remarkable year for Brunei’s ASEAN Chairmanship despite the historic challenges brought on by the pandemic that continues to test our resilience, our resolve and our unity as a region,” said Siti Rozaimeriyanty.
“The unceasing and tireless determination, persistence and collaboration in finding ways and means to save lives and bring our economies back to normal have shown that it can be done – and more can be achieved – for as long as we stay together, sama-sama,” she added.
Haslina binti Haji Mohd Taib, who chaired the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021 said, “COVID-19 has been presenting us with opportunities to accelerate digital transformation. It has been a privilege to Chair the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2021, meeting great minds of economic and business leaders and working together for a sustainable digital future.”
East Asia Business Council (EABC) Brunei Chair and Managing Director of Adinin Group of Companies Haji Musa bin Haji Adnin said, “ABAC Brunei acknowledged the struggles of businesses as a result of the adverse socio-economic impact and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and translated this into the ASEAN Business Awards 2021 theme and aspiration for ASEAN member states to ‘Recover, Stronger, Together, Sama-Sama’.”
ABAC has a mandate to provide private sector feedback and guidance to boost ASEAN’s efforts towards economic integration and identify priority areas.
While the chairmanship rotates to Cambodia, the need for continued discourse and business engagement with the Brunei public and private sector together with ASEAN, dialogue partner business councils and the wider community remains.
