The government of Brunei Darussalam has taken the initiative with regards to fostering a strong ICT sector in the Sultanate. The government is mindful of technology’s potential to create value for the country’s economy and to ensure social development for its citizens. To date, government officials, in concert with the private sector, have initiated various strategic ICT infrastructure...
Brunei Darussalam ICT
Commanding the second-highest GDP per capita of all ASEAN nations, at $40,979 in 2014, Brunei Darussalam remains one of the most advanced economies in the South-east Asian region. This is in large part due to the Sultanate’s well-developed energy sector; however, with oil and gas prices falling substantially from mid-2014, new efforts are being made to increase the efficiency of production and diversify the economy to ensure future stability and sustainability.
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Commanding the second-highest GDP per capita of all ASEAN nations, at $40,979 in 2014, Brunei Darussalam remains one of the most advanced economies in the South-east Asian region. This is in large part due to the Sultanate’s well-developed energy sector; however, with oil and gas prices falling substantially from mid-2014, new efforts are being made to increase the efficiency of production and diversify the economy to ensure future stability and sustainability.
The ICT sector has been singled out as a priority in Brunei Darussalam’s long-term strategic development plan, Wawasan Brunei 2035, which has set an ambitious target for the sector to contribute 5-6% to national GDP by 2015, compared to an estimated 2% in 2013. Although dial-up internet connections continue to dwindle, broadband connections witnessed a dramatic resurgence starting in 2013....
Following its successful chairmanship of ASEAN in 2013, Brunei Darussalam will look to continue its role as a regional leader in areas ranging from defence to commerce. The increased focus on diversification and the growth of several industries bode well for the economy, and the coming years are expected to see Brunei Darussalam further bolster its position within ASEAN and the international economy.
The government has set a goal of raising ICT’s contribution to the economy from 1.6% of GDP in 2010 to 6% by 2015. Brunei Darussalam has certain demographic advantages, including high literacy and relatively strong per capita consumption of electronic goods, which make this a realistic goal. However, the ICT sector is still quite small and additional work is required to provide better access to...
As ASEAN chair in 2013, Brunei Darussalam has a regional agenda to push forward alongside its domestic plans for the year. Chief among its local priorities is developing alternative resources streams in its economy, which has long been driven by its oil and natural gas revenues.