MinCom official flies to Japan for 7-day ICT programme

THE Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications has been selected by the Japanese government to undergo a one-week programme in Japan to gain a deeper understanding of the country in areas such as technology.

Abd Mutalib POKSS DP Hj Mohd Yusof left for Japan yesterday accompanied by an official from the ministry and will return to Brunei on February 14.

The "21st Century Partnership Invitation Programme" is aimed at promoting a deeper understanding of Japan and its policies. Other participants include officials in the political, economic, academic or journalistic fields, who are expected to be future leaders from 30 countries.

The annual programme was to give the invited guests the opportunity to communicate with the Japanese government and the private sector, as well as visit the industrial areas and traditional cultural places. Counsellor Akira Sato at the Japanese embassy in Brunei told The Brunei Times that inviting the deputy permanent secretary was a way of promoting human exchanges between both countries.

"The reason why we chose the deputy permanent secretary was because he has old networks with the Japanese. Brunei and Japan's economic relationship is very nice, but of course it is also based on human relationships. So ... conducting this programme is one way to keep the relationship," he said.

He added that while the embassy hoped Abd Mutalib would be able to extend his human networks in Japan and to have friendly talks with Japanese counterparts, they also hope that he would bring some tangible results.

"We want him to inspect and acknowledge Japanese technology, as well as experience the advances of our transportation and telecommunications systems," he said.

He added that he hoped the MinCom official would use his experiences to set up infrastructure in telecommunications and transportation in Brunei.

Last year, Sato said Universiti Brunei Darussalam's vice-chancellor was invited for the programme, and signed two Memorandum of Understanding with two universities.

The "tailor-made visit" is designed between leaders of Brunei and Japan, and has been carried out for about 10 years.Other participants of the programme will visit Japan separately.

Abd Mutalib is scheduled to meet officials at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. He will also experience traditional Japanese culture in Kyoto and visit the peace memorial park in Hiroshima. Rachel Thien

The Brunei Times