Azlan Othman
Brunei Darussalam has been actively aligning itself with the digital development in ASEAN, said Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha.
In an address during the launch of the 12th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (IAMMSTI-12) and Digital Future Conference and Exhibition, the minister highlighted that the ASEAN region has fully embraced the opportunities presented by the digital revolution.
“ASEAN has also witnessed exponential growth in Internet connectivity, mobile technology adoption and e-commerce,” said the minister.
“This has also led to the emergence of a vibrant digital economy, enabling startups and entrepreneurs to thrive,” he added.
In aligning itself with ASEAN’s digital progress, the Sultanate is demonstrating its commitment to harnessing the power of innovation and digital transformation, said the minister.
“Several initiatives to promote the adoption of emerging technologies and create an enabling environment for innovation to thrive have been implemented,” said the minister.
They include programmes such as the Digital Innovation and Startups Ecosystem, which provides incubator support, mentorship and co-working space for facilitating the growth of digital innovation and startups to legislation such as the Cyber Security Order.
The minister also said they are are making positive progress in the formulation of a Personal Data Protection Order (PDPO).
The government has “prioritised the development of improved Internet connectivity, including the expansion of fibre-optic networks and deployment of latest mobile technology”, he said.
Yesterday saw the launch of the Digital Future Conference and Exhibition, which is held as part of the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition 2023 (Brunei MYCE 2023) at The Empire Brunei.
The IAMMSTI-12 also took place at the same venue yesterday. The Digital Future Conference and Exhibition is jointly organised by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB).
The conference and exhibition showcase the latest in technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, Internet of things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality.
The conference includes keynote speeches and panel discussions by local and international experts on emerging technologies, digital strategy, data analytics, AI, and finance technology,
Meanwhile, the exhibition showcasing tech companies, startups and telecommunication service providers, is open until 5pm today.
To commemorate the IAMMSTI-12, the event also featured a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) exhibition.
