SPEECH BY
ABDUL MUTALIB PEHIN DATO YUSOF
PERMANENT SECRETARY
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
AS CHAIRMAN OF BICTA 2013 STEERING COMITTEE
AT
BICTA 2013 AWARDS CEREMONY
ON
MONDAY, 23rd SEPTEMBER 2013 (2:30pm)
DEWAN SERI KERNA, AITI
Yang
Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji
Abdullah Bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister Of
Communications,
Your Excellencies, Senior Officials,
AITI Members of Authority, Senior Officers, BICTA Participants, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and a very good afternoon,
1. First
of all, I wish to thank Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji
Bakar, Minister of Communications, our Guest of Honour, for gracing the
BICTA Awards CeremonyYang Berhormat Pehin’s presence as well as the
attendance of other guests here, reflect your collective support for the
development of the local ICT industry. It is, indeed, very much
appreciated.
2. This year marks the 9th
anniversary of the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA). We have come a long way
since its launching in 2004. Throughout this journey, BICTA has evolved
in line with trends and development in the ICT industry.
3. Over
the past years, BICTA has received steady participation from the local
ICT players. I am pleased to inform that the participation from tertiary
institutions has been very encouraging. In addition, we have also seen
emerging newcomers participating in BICTA every year. This shows that
BICTA has proven itself to be the benchmark for ICT innovation in Brunei
Darussalam.
Yang Berhormat Pehin, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
4. For
BICTA 2013, we have received 22 participants competing in the three
main categories, namely Secondary Student Project Category, Tertiary
Student Project Category and ICT Industry Category. Under the ICT
Industry category, participants have the opportunity to compete in 15
sub-categories covering a wide range of areas, such as Tourism and
Hospitality, E-Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Communications
Applications and others.
5. In
addition, BICTA 2013 has also introduced the Special Mention Awards.
Participants of this award may not be winners, but there is certainly
potential in theirAlso held in this year’s BICTA is the Islamic Product
Awards. It is in our best interest that we encourage Bruneians to
produce more locally made ICT products, designed and manufactured by
Bruneians in line with our Islamic values.
6. BICTA
is not just any competition. It was designed to be a window of
opportunity for individuals and companies not only to showcase their
innovative ICT products in the local market but also to interact
globally through the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA). I am
therefore pleased to inform that the winners of this year’s BICTA will
be competing in the prestigious APICTA 2013 in Hong Kong this November.
7. Reflecting on our participation since APICTA 2002, Alhamdullillah we have achieved the following milestones:
i. At the APICTA 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, MARS Enterprise won the e-Logistics and Supply Chain Management Category.
ii. Chung Hwa Middle School won the Merit Awards at the APICTA 2010 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
iii. In APICTA 2011 in Thailand, Crescent Sdn Bhd won the e-Learning product with their “Islamic Brunei Educators”; and
iv.
Last year at APICTA 2012 in Brunei Darussalam, Chung Hwa Middle School
once again won the Secondary Student Project School with four other
participants winning merit awards.
8. Looking
back at our achievements in recent years, it is very important to
maintain the momentum of success. This year InshaaAllah we hope to bring
back more winners from APICTA 2013! In this regard, I am pleased to
inform that AITI is committed to continue its support by offering a
grant of $50,000 to any BICTA participant who becomes a winner at APICTA
and a $25,000 grant for a Merit Award. These grants can be used to
develop their respective products further and serve as an encouragement
to strive for more success at the international level.
Yang Berhormat Pehin, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
9. To
conclude my remarks today, again I wish to thank Yang Berhormat Pehin
for his relentless support and encouragement in our initiatives towards
developing our local ICT players. I also would like to take this
opportunity to thank members of the BICTA 2013 Steering Committee,
Working Committee and the panel of judges for their hard work and
commitment. Our appreciation also goes to the local ICT players,
including BICTA participants, who have been supporting BICTA since the
early years of its introduction. I look forward to your continuous
support and participation.
10. And lastly, to
the winners of BICTA 2013, we congratulate you and wish you all the
best for APICTA 2013 and your future undertakings. Thank you very much.
Wabillahi Taufik Walhidayah, Wasalamu Alaikum Warrah Matullahi Wabarakatuh.
