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Role of ICT in development Courtesy
of Sunday Bulletin By Jacky
Lim & Abd Khalik SR
The 19th Conference of the Asean Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO 19) and the exhibition was officially declared opened yesterday by the Guest of Honour, Minister of Communications, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Zakaria at the Centrepoint in Gadong.
"This
is the third time the conference is being held in
CAFEO 19
carried the theme "Information & Communication Technology in
Development - The Challenges Ahead" and will end on the October 24. Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Zakaria said: "Infocommunication technology advancements like the Internet and telecommunications have become a powerful tool in empowering business, the government and society.
"The Internet is clearly transforming the retail marketplace and e-business technologies have fostered an unprecedented range of innovations in business structure, distribution of wealth and indeed, redefined the way we do commerce. E-business allows more room for companies to compete. This is because information networks and technology conveniently make information more available or accessible to consumers, resulting in increased competition as well as better quality products and services at a reduced price."
The President of PUJA (Pertubuhan Ukur, Jurutera and Arkitek), Dato Paduka Haji Zakaria bin Dato Paduka Haji Noordin said: "This year is a year of great challenges, some presented by events that are now unfolding before us. The recession in some ICT sectors, decrease in international air travel and the decrease in the demand for e-products, are some of the things that need a lot of attention."
Haji Sapawi Bolhassan, Chairman of The Organising Committee of CAFÉO-19, explained that the theme reflected the importance of ICT in shaping the future socio-economic development of the region in the wake of challenges posed by globalisation.
Hj Sapawi said that the Young Engineers programme was an integral part of every CAFEO since it was ratified during the CAFEO-12 in 1994 in Brunei Darussalam.
The programme for this year's CAFEO Young Engineers includes a session to discuss and formulate a Strategic Plan for YEAFEO where it is hoped that young engineers can plot the grouping's future direction and strategy to realise its vision to be a dynamic and progressive organisation that leads the development of young engineers in the Asean region.
Sixty
representatives from Asean countries are
participating in the Young Engineers Programme this
year.
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