Monday, October 20, 2008

BRUNEI'S information and communication technology (ICT) sector is aiming to get a much needed boost at the fifth China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) in China's Nanning as this year's focus revolves around ICT Development and Cooperation under the theme "The Asean Information and Communication Technology Cooperation". Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AiTi) Chief Executive Pg Hj Mohd Zain Pg Hj Abd Razak said that this year's expo carries a huge significance for AiTi as it is aligned with their role as the supervising agency for the development of ICT in Brunei.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR), AiTi under the Ministry of Communications has selected 12 local-based ICT companies and incubatees from the private and semi-government sectors to showcase their products and services to the regional and international market during the four-day expo.

The 12 selected companies under the AiTi banner include CfBT Education Services, HAD Technologies Sdn Bhd, WestEgrets Technologies and Services, Star Incubator Sdn Bhd, Brukiosk Communications, Alif Technologies, Linknet Solutions and Cyberunai eService. Other companies participating as trade exhibitors are Indah Sejahtera Development and Services, John Harith Computer, Mimit Technology and The Rumbian Nation. Two other local companies namely Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru) and Timetech Computer & Trading Company have registered with AiTi to become trade visitors. The exhibitors' products and services, such as e-service solutions and software, are expected to attract foreign interest as well as generate and establish lucrative relations in their efforts to enhance and further develop the nation's ICT industry, said the chief executive yesterday. With Brunei's budding ICT industry keen on making its presence known, the nation has much to learn and gain through the development of bilateral trade and economic relations with China, he added.

He said that apart from promoting local ICT companies overseas, they are also keen on introducing various products and services offered by local ICT companies to attract the Chinese investors as well as other countries who are taking part in the expo. Previously, participation by local ICT based companies have generated strong foreign interest, resulting in several fruitful partnerships and hopefully the same will come from this year's involvement especially with the theme catering more towards ICT development and cooperation," he added. He noted that this year's response from ICT companies is the biggest number of participants over the past several years. Officials from the CAEXPO Secretariat said that ICT cooperation is one of the 10 priority fields confirmed by China and Asean, and it enjoys a big market potential with ample room for bilateral cooperation. China's ICT sector has maintained rapid development, with a large production scale and more advanced technologies over the past years. In 2007, China's sales volume in the ICT sector recorded 5.6 trillion yuan, making the country one of the top ICT producers in the world. As a major oil exporter among Asean countries, Brunei enjoys a higher GDP per capita which propels the demand for ICT products. The Brunei ICT delegation left on one of the chartered flights bound for the fifth CAEXPO in Nanning yesterday.  Source -The Brunei Times.