Friday, February 02, 2007

Minister calls on private sector, NGOs, individuals to help reduce poverty

from the Borneo Bulletin

By Lyna Mohamad

In Its efforts to alleviate poverty, Brunei Darussalam not only implements various projects and programmes both in urban and rural areas, but also creates awareness on the importance of being able to sustain them and to further enhance their quality of life, where in this regard, the government has always encouraged participation of private sector and non-government organisations as well as individuals to be more responsible.

This was stated by the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan, in a press conference held shortly after his return from Thailand, at the Brunei International Airport, yesterday. The Minister attended the 5th Asean Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication on Wednesday, in Bangkok.

"They must also actively participate in helping the community to be more productive and committed for their own well-being to eradicate poverty," said Pehin Hj Adanan.

"Additionally, towards achieving a sustainable economic and social development, Brunei Darussalam has taken steps to facilitate the community by continuously investing not only on education but also on medical, healthcare, housing infrastructure as well as basic necessities.

"Such basic necessities include telecommunication, electricity and other public facilities, and this is in line with the nation's long-term objectives that are encompassed in its NDP to maintain the high standard of living of its people," the Minister added.

Carrying the theme "Community Empowerment: A Crucial Path To Rural Development", the meeting was chaired by Thailand's Minister of Social Development and Human Safety, Mr Paihoon Wattanasiritham.

Asean Senior Officers earlier attended the SOMRPDE and the preliminary meeting of Senior Officers of Asean plus Three (SOMRPDE+3) held January 28-30, 2007. The meeting was headed by Brunei's Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Adnan bin Hj Hanafiah, and attended by senior officers from the Department of Community Develop-ment, Economic Development and Planning Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Among the issues discussed and agreed on in the Asean Ministers meeting were the commitment of heads of states in the 12th Asean Summit on the efforts to reduce poverty and the difference gap by upgrading the standard and quality of life as critical for the success of rural development and poverty eradication.

The ministers also emphasised the need to empower the communities' capabilities through efforts in generating education, employment and by contributing to generate income, apart from increasing the capabilities of the human resources.

The ministers also highlighted the importance of incorporating cooperation in efforts to empower the community in line with the Asean Framework Action Plan, including cooperation with other sectors.

The speeding up of the Asean Framework Action Plan process towards rural development to help realise the 'Millennium Development Goals' (MDGs) in Asean Countries and the need for cooperation efforts for rural development and eradication of poverty were also on the agenda.

The meeting also agreed on the speeding up of the action process in three fields under the Framework Action Plan, namely "Narrowing the Digital Divide", "Employment and Income Generation and Partnership", and "Decentralisation and Local Participation".

At yesterday's press conference, the Minister said that another key strategy to eradicate poverty is through the development of marketable resources "where in this aspect, Brunei Darussalam is actively embarking on its Human Resources Development Programme".

"This programme aims to equip the people with more knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure more employment opportunities, not only in the government sector but also in the private sector, to become successful entrepreneurs," said Pehin Hj Adanan.

The 6th Asean Ministers Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication will be hosted by Vietnam in 2009.

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