Strong public, private sector tie-up vital for economy
Thursday, March 29, 2007
SUCCESSFUL "marriage" between private and government sector is essential to boost economic development in the sultanate
The Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, while emphasising the point said that the setting up of the public-private partnership was the result of developed countries' failure to meet the demands of its people.
Quoting from a publication by author Duncan Cartilidge, the minister's opening speech at the Conference on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Conference yesterday said, the United Kingdom's traditional methods of procurement and funding of public sector projects led to overbudgeting and the late delivery.
"In Southeast Asia, the concept of public-private partnership has been around for more than three decades. The recent establishment of this partnership in the sultanate has led to development seminars, workshops to further explore and identify the concept and its benefits," the minister said.
He said in the UK, the concept of PPP was successful because the government changed its role from service provider to a policy maker. Taking on a business-like role, it allowed the private sector to take a main hold in the provision of public services and involvement in decision making. The partnership in turn led to the private sector transferring its management skills, technologies to the public sector.
"What happens when we implement PPP in Brunei? Are we ready to pay for the service, where everything is presently provided by the government?" asked the minister and added that the partnership required commitment, good governance and "good" human resources.
"Let us all think about this, and ask if we have the necessary ingredients to bring to the table, so to speak, before we can eat it,"he said.The Brunei Times
The Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, while emphasising the point said that the setting up of the public-private partnership was the result of developed countries' failure to meet the demands of its people.
Quoting from a publication by author Duncan Cartilidge, the minister's opening speech at the Conference on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Conference yesterday said, the United Kingdom's traditional methods of procurement and funding of public sector projects led to overbudgeting and the late delivery.
"In Southeast Asia, the concept of public-private partnership has been around for more than three decades. The recent establishment of this partnership in the sultanate has led to development seminars, workshops to further explore and identify the concept and its benefits," the minister said.
He said in the UK, the concept of PPP was successful because the government changed its role from service provider to a policy maker. Taking on a business-like role, it allowed the private sector to take a main hold in the provision of public services and involvement in decision making. The partnership in turn led to the private sector transferring its management skills, technologies to the public sector.
"What happens when we implement PPP in Brunei? Are we ready to pay for the service, where everything is presently provided by the government?" asked the minister and added that the partnership required commitment, good governance and "good" human resources.
"Let us all think about this, and ask if we have the necessary ingredients to bring to the table, so to speak, before we can eat it,"he said.The Brunei Times
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