Press Release

14 July 2010 – The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) organized an industry briefing today at the Seri Kerna Hall, Block B13, AITI Building. The objective of the briefing was to share with industry players on the latest development of pro-business initiatives spearheaded by AITI. The briefing, chaired by Mr Queh Ser Pheng (Deputy Chief Executive of Regulatory, Industry and Community), covered the ICT Accredited Business (ICTAB) initiative, new Policy Directives that were recently approved by the Brunei IT (BIT) Council and the AITI Grant Scheme. More than seventy (70) representatives from the ICT industry attended the briefing. The industry viewed these developments as a positive step for better growth and sustainability of the local ICT players.

ICT Accredited Business (ICTAB)

The main objective of this initiative is for ICT businesses to be accredited as a prerequisite before participating in any Government ICT projects. This is to ensure Government ICT projects are carried out successfully by competent local vendors. The accreditation will also help to develop and sustain good ICT businesses, promote transfer of knowledge and skills to locals and discourages ‘Ali Baba' businesses.

ICTAB allows ICT vendors to be classified into five (5) different classes based on their financial capacity, local ownership and their availability of local skilled manpower when participating in Government ICT projects. One of the preconditions of ICTAB is for ICT businesses to obtain AITI Accredited Business (AAB) Status. As such, AITI encourages all local ICT players to obtain AAB Status.

Four (4) Policy Directives to Promote and Develop Local ICT industry

AITI, as the secretariat to the BIT Council, also shared the four (4) Policy Directives to promote the development of the local ICT industry through certain mechanisms build into the Government ICT tender processes.

These Policy Directives are as follows:

Preference for vendors having AAB Status when participating in Government ICT projects. Six (6) months after the implementation of this directive, AAB Status will become a mandatory requirement for any businesses when participating in Government ICT projects.
Preference for “Made in Brunei” components or systems in Government ICT projects.
Outsourcing of selected Government ICT projects to ICT businesses through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative; and
Requirement for Multinational Company (MNC) to mentor a local ICT partner when awarded big Government ICT projects.

The event concluded with a briefing and Q&A session to clarify matters with regard to the AITI Grant Scheme that was launched on 7 July 2010.

The AITI Grant Scheme is to encourage Research and Development activities and capabilities in producing local innovative ICT products with commercial potentials. Four (4) types of grants (Product Development, Product Enhancement, Product Ownership and Product Packaging) are available which depicts the various stages of ICT product or solution development.

More information about AITI Grant Scheme and the Industry Briefing conducted today can be found at AITI's website ( www.aiti.gov.bn ). The closing date for AITI Grant Scheme application is on 6 th August 2010, 4pm. Interested applicants with queries regarding AITI Grant Scheme can contact AITI's IT Industry Development Group at 2323232 (during office hours) or email at itidg@aiti.gov.bn

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Released by:

Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI)

PRESS RELEASE

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