The visit began with a doa selamat and was followed by a welcoming address by the Second Minister of Finance. The Finance Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dato Paduka Haji Ali bin Apong in his briefing outlined the role and functions as well as organisational structure of the ministry.
 

During the visit, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took a closer look at the Research and International Division of the ministry. The section, among other things, does research on fiscal, monetary and financial sector issues, monitors the economic development of Brunei Darussalam along with identification of projects for the national development plan that can be financed by international financial institutions and investment opportunities.
 

The Budget Section and Sub-Treasury Department also came under His Royal Highness’s scrutiny. His Royal Highness had a closer look at the facilities available at the section whilst being briefed on the budget statistics and the section’s roles and functions.

The State Tender Board Section was also in His Royal Highness’s tour itinerary. There, His Royal Highness was briefed on the processes and procedures pertaining to tenders for state procurement amounting to 250 thousand dollars above and of the roles and functions of the board in making recommendations on tenders.

His Royal Highness later toured the Administration Office on the 15th floor of the complex. The section is primarily responsible in delivering administrative and management services in matters that relate to administration, personnel, staff resources, finance, building facilities and information technology.

From the Administration Section, His Royal Highness moved on to the Brunei International Financial Centre, BIFC. There, His Royal Highness was briefed on the centre’s vision and mission to become a financial centre that is competitive to the main international financial centres and on the various legislations that were drafted pertaining to the centre.

His Royal Highness also made a tour to the Financial Institution which was established to carry out its responsibility as the regulator of financial institutions involving banks, finance companies, insurance companies, money changer and remittance businesses.

The Revenue Section also drew His Royal Highness’s attention. The royal visitor was presented with an exhibition on the section’s current achievement statistics in its role as collector of revenues from proceeds of registered companies.
 

Before proceeding on with the tour, His Royal Highness stopped to perform the midday Zuhur prayer at the surau of the ministry and had luncheon at the nearby International Convention Centre.
 

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office continued his working visit to the Ministry of Finance Tuesday afternoon.

At the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board, His Royal Highness consented to officiate at the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board Gallery which amongst others displayed collections of old and current coins and notes and of equipment used in making the Brunei currency. The Currency Gallery is established with the main aim of introducing to the public, the role of money in the economy, the country’s trade and usage of currency from Brunei Darussalam’s perspective.
 

His Royal Highness consented to tour the gallery which has its main theme in the history and development of the Brunei currency. The gallery will also serve as a local tourist attraction which is able to project the history of the development of currency in Brunei Darussalam as well as a place to obtain commemorative coins that have been issued by the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board. The gallery is open to the public during office hours.

His Royal Highness later visited various other sections of the department. The Brunei Currency Board was set up on the 12th of June 1967, and replaces the Board of Commissioners of Currency of Malaya and North British Borneo, as the issuer of the Brunei Currency. The Brunei Currency Board was subsequently renamed the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board.

Since the issuance of its own currency, the Brunei Currency Board has been engaging well-established overseas printers and mints in the production of Brunei’s notes and coins. In the case of discovery or possession of any mutilated Brunei notes and coins, the public may present them to the Brunei Currency Board during office hours for assessment of value and exchange. To date, the Brunei Currency Board has issued various series of denominations of the 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 and 10,000 dollar notes with different designs.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s working visit reflects his concern with regards to the discharge of duties and responsibilities by the Ministry of Finance in matters pertaining to finance in line with the vision to bring about a stable and dynamic financial system. The visit is also a continuity of efforts in support of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, towards ensuring that government agencies are always sensitive and responsive to current developments for the prosperity and well-being of the nation.

The two-nightly ASEAN Inter-Varsity Quran Reading Competition draw to a close Tuesday evening with Awang Zulhafiz bin Haji Tengah, Universiti Brunei Darussalam graduate emerged as the Qari champion. Whilst Dayang Uray Tini Afriyanti, graduate from Universitas Tanjungpura Kalimantan Barat (UNTAN) emerged as the Qariah champion. Both of them walked away with a trophy and a thousand dollars winning price.
 

Representatives of ASEAN member countries are in Bandar Seri Begawan to discuss plans for the Joint ASEAN Omnibus Stamp Programme for 2007 commemorating the establishment of the regional organisation.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau, Tuesday distributed books on Corruption Prevention Education to the Temburong District. At the function, Senior Assistant Director of the bureau, Abang Haji Kifrawi expressed the hope that early education and exposure to anti corruption efforts would boost self-awareness and the feeling of responsibility in students and pupils themselves.

As a pioneer scheme, the curriculum is expected to benefit pupils of Primary One and students of Secondary One and Secondary Four in various ways especially in warding off corruption influences that they may encounter in the future. The books were handed over to the Principal of the Sultan Hassan Secondary School and to headmasters of Primary Schools in Temburong.

Three families in Kampung Manggis Dua, who lost their valuable belongings in a fire late last year have been given financial assistance to help alleviate their sufferings. The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation donated four thousand four hundred dollars.

The Third National Skills Competition continues Tuesday in cookery talent. The two-day-event at the Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College is to select two candidates out of six to represent the country to the ASEAN National Skills Competition in Cookery to be held in Brunei in September.

According to the organiser, the objective of the project is to promote craft courses to young students and to allow the participants to be innovative and creative towards fulfilling needs in the hotel and catering industry. Since taking part in the ASEAN Skills Competition in 2001, Brunei’s representatives have won gold medal in the same year and silver in the consecutive year.