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62 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2023
share non-sensitive information with
the public, facilitate access to data by
agencies or free online download.
Some 129 e-services from34 E-Government
systems have also been introduced and
can be accessed through the
portal at . In addition, there
are 20 government mobile apps that
can be accessed and downloaded
through the portal.
MTIC 2025 Strategic
Plan
April 2020 saw the launch of the Ministry
of Transport and Infocommunications
(MTIC) 2025 Strategic Plan (MTIC
2025) to align with His Majesty Sultan
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin
Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji
Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi
Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of
of Brunei Darussalam’s aspiration for the
country to transform into a Smart Nation.
Withitsnewvisionofa‘ConnectedSmart
Nation’ and the mission of ‘Enhancing
Connectivity for Great Socio-Economic
Opportunities, Innovation and High
Quality of Life’, the plan is also in
concert with the three goals of Brunei
Vision 2035: ensuring high quality of life;
boasting highly educated and skilled
workforce; and having a sustainable
and dynamic economy.
Theministry’s approach is guided by six
core strategies: digital transformation;
supporting participation and innovation
from stakeholders in ICT; ensuring
safety standards in transport and
ICT sectors; ensuring the policy and
regulatory framework is conducive
to investments and businesses;
organisational transformation; and
enhancing international cooperation.
In 2022, the ministry achieved an overall
35.9 per cent of its 34 key performance
indicators (KPIs) of the six core strategies
under MTIC 2025 within the first year of
implementation at the end of 2021.
Other major launches by the ministry in
2021 include a pilot project to promote
and raise awareness of the transition to
use 5G in the future; the establishment
of the Council for Research and
Advancement of Technology and
Science (CREATES) to replace the
Brunei Research Council and National
Working Committee on science and
technology as a measure to spur
research and development activities;
and the updating of TransportBNmobile
app to facilitate services provided to the
public to apply for road tax and driving
license in digital form.
Digital Economy
Council
The Digital Economy Council was
established to replace the functions
of the Brunei Darussalam National IT
Council and drive the country towards
becoming a ‘Smart Nation’. In 2020,
the Digital Economy Council launched
the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025
to guide efforts towards achieving
economic prosperity and sustainability
through digital transformation.
Projects under the Digital Economy
Masterplan 2025 include the National
Information Hub as an easy information
sharing platform; digital ID to enable
public access to government services
at any time; and Digital Payment Hub
to ease payment processes using smart
devices.
In 2022, the Digital Economy Council
launched the Brunei Innovation Lab
(BIL) to help local businesses scale
up by leveraging on technology to
produce smart solutions in addressing
real world problems and creating new
opportunities. BIL focusses on 10 new
and emerging technology areas: AI,
robotics and automation, blockchain,
cloud computing, data analytics, digital
twin, Internet of Things (IoT), additive
manufacturing and cybersecurity.