The Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2024 was launched at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha was the guest of honour, who was welcomed on arrival by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof as Co-Chairperson I of the BICTA 2024 Steering Committee; Chief Executive of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) Ir Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar; and Chairperson of InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB) Pengiran Sarimah binti Pengiran Haji Abdul Latiff as Co-Chairperson II of the BICTA 2024 Steering Committee.
Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri said BICTA 2024 is themed ‘Smart Nation Through Digital Transformation’ and this year includes the Royal Patron Award. The Royal Patron Award, presented once every two years, gives recognition to the best of BICTA 2024 winners.
BICTA 2024 has 10 categories for participation by individuals, students, businesses, government agencies and organisations. It will also have five Smart Nation Awards to non-winning entries fulfilling Brunei’s Smart Nation vision on digital transformation.
Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary, following the launch of BICTA 2024, presented awards to individuals for their contributions towards BICTA including successes at international competitions.
The recipients of the awards, in conjunction with BICTA’s 20th anniversary, were Haji Muhammad Zuwaini bin Haji Aliyani, Matthew Wong Ing Houng, Pengiran Khairi bin Pengiran Haji Metussin, Sarinah binti Ziziumiza, Dr Yong Chee Tuan and Sheikh Haji Abas bin Sheikh Mohamad.
The minister visited BICTA alumni’s exhibition after the award presentation.
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Chong Chin Yee, senior government officials and representatives from educational institutions and local ICT companies as well as BICTA alumni were also present.
BICTA, first introduced in 2004, is an annual ICT competition organised by the MTIC, AITI and IFB and supported by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Education and Darussalam Enterprise (DARe).
BICTA 2024 includes BICTA Plus Bootcamp with specialised training and mentoring programme for BICTA participants.
BICTA is a component of the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards and the Sultanate’s participation in APICTA since 2008 received four winning awards and 32 merit awards.
The winners of BICTA 2024 will represent the country in the APICTA 2024 to be held in Brunei at the end of the year.
Details and application form can be found at www.bicta.gov.bn. Deadline for entry submission is May 30. – James Kon
