Bruneian tech companies urged to tap into Asean ICT Fund

BRUNEI ICT companies with project proposals for ICT developments in the Southeast Asian region are encouraged to tap into the Asean ICT Fund.

The Asean ICT Fund was established in 2006 to support and expedite the Asean ICT work programmes, in which each Asean member country has committed to contribute US$100,000 annually.

The move is part of Asean's recently adopted ICT Masterplan 2015, a comprehensive plan of specific actions and projects with clear targets and timelines in six strategic thrusts to be implemented in the next five years and beyond.

During the launch of the Asean ICT Masterplan 2015 roadshow yesterday, Minister of Communications Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar urged local ICT companies to take the opportunity to make full use of the Asean ICT Fund and put forward their innovations and ideas onto the Asean platform.

He said that the fund was established to facilitate funding and expedite implementation of ICT projects for the region.

He said that proponents of projects, researches or studies on any issues leveraging on ICT can apply to get funding through the fund.

"(It) opens up opportunities for local industry stakeholders to collaborate with their Asean counterparts, and that the initiatives supporting the strategic thrusts will serve as guidelines in their joint collaboration and ventures," he said in his welcoming remarks at the launch.

He urged private companies in the Sultanate to eye the Asean market which is seen to record significant growth. The region is mostly comprised of developing countries and home to more than 600 million people waiting to get connected.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, AITI Assistant Executive Officer Wallace Koh said that the ministry has picked AITI to be the implementing agency that will work with all Brunei's ICT projects that will be presented to the Asean Telecommunications and Information Technology meeting committee. He said project proposals are required to meet the objectives of the Asean ICT Masterplan 2015.

The Brunei Times