Speeches

 

Abdul Mutalib Pehin Dato Yusof

Deputy Permanent Secretary

Ministry Of Communications

Negara Brunei Darussalam

As

Telsom Leader Of Brunei Darussalam

Opening Ceremony Of The 1^st Asean CIO Forum

19^th April 2012, Bangkok, Thailand

Your Excellency Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap, Minister of Information and Communication Technology of Thailand,

Mr. Chaicharean Atibaedya, CIO 16 Chairman,

Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo of the ASEAN Secretariat,

Distinguished ASEAN delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

A Very Good Morning!

1. It is a privilege to be here. As the lead country for this 1^st ASEAN CIO Forum, we are very grateful for the cooperation of Thailand in hosting this event today. Your unwavering support, despite having to delay this event due to the flooding incident late last year, is commendable. In this opportunity, on behalf of the Government of Brunei Darussalam and all of us here, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the recent floodings in Thailand. We pray for the speedy recovery of those affected by this incident.

Your Excellency Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

2. Let me share with you some perspective on the CIO Forum, how it relates to the ASEAN ICT Masterplan (AIM 2015) and how this initiative plays a role in bridging the Digital Divide within ASEAN.

3. Yes.. there are gaps to be addressed within ASEAN. And yes, we recognise the different levels of development within ASEAN member countries. We also have our own different resources and requirements. We all have our own roles to play. For the Government, it is our responsibility to ensure the policy and regulatory environment are conducive and facilitative. We need to ensure good governance is in place to go beyond making transactions less timely and more simple. We need the support from the private sector in making the industry more vibrant and competitive. As for the users, we want them to exploit ICT to their own benefits as much as possible.

4. But most importantly, we all share the same vision - “Towards an Empowering and Transformational ICT: Creating an Inclusive, Vibrant and Integrated ASEAN”.

5. This is the vision of the ASEAN ICT Masterplan (AIM2015).   With the launch of the AIM2015 in January 2011 at the 10th ASEAN TELMIN in Kuala Lumpur, programs and activities of the ASEAN TELSOM and ATRC are now more focused towards the six pillars of the AIM2015. Initiatives have been identified to support the implementation of these pillars. Under the 3^rd pillar - “Innovation”, the 1^st ASEAN CIO Forum is one such initiative. This Forum is intended as the platform to promote sharing of best practices and collaboration amongst CIOs. [1].

6. Through this platform, it is our shared goal for the Forum to enhance the competitiveness of the region by driving business intentions, strengthen pillars and push ICT adoption. This is in line with the aspiration of our Leaders through the Phnom Penh Agenda to realize a truly ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Your Excellency Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. Allow me now to briefly touch on the content of this 1^st ASEAN CIO Forum. Cloud computing, green ICT, cyber security and citizen engagement are among some of the key topics for discussion over the next couple of days.

8. I regard these topics as issues of increasing importance and relevance. Let me share with you why:-

1. A 10% increase in broadband penetration adds a 1.2% rise in economic growth in high income countries and 1.38% growth for middle and low income countries[2];
2. Cybercrime costs business losses of US$1trillion in 2008[3] alone; and
3. The ICT sector is responsible for about 2% of global green house gases (GHG) emissions, including radio communications systems and equipment. But by far, the ICT sector’s largest contribution is in enabling energy efficiency in other sectors (which is, the remaining 98%)[4].

9.  These are just few reasons why we need to address these issues for further progress. By learning from each other’s perspective and expertise, I am sure we can avoid duplication, be more efficient and achieve collective progress as a region. 

10. Hence, I hope that the 1^st ASEAN CIO Forum will pave the way for more productive deliberations in a wider range of issues. In fact, this platform should tap on the significant growth our region has experienced. According to a 2011 ITU statistics, in the year 2010, ASEAN’s average mobile phone density of 97.7% is higher than the world’s average of 78%. ASEAN member countries also continue to show progressive rankings in the ICT Development Index 2010 recently published by the ITU. With the current vibrancy of the region, I am optimistic that we can enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN.

11. To conclude, I look forward to joining in the fruitful discussions during the Forum. With our dedication and hard work for progress, I believe we will achieve what we are here for today. Lastly, thank you again to Thailand, as the host country and local organiser, for your commitment in ensuring the success of the 1^st ASEAN CIO Forum.

Thank you.