Tuesday morning, the visiting President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Dato Laila Utama Doctor Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held meetings with officials from several agencies involved with the Brunei Economic Development projects.  The meeting took place at Istana Edinburgh in Jalan Berakas.

The Indonesian President first met with the Brunei Investment Agency, BIA officials. Their discussion focused on BIA investment in Indonesia in the field of infrastructure such as toll road, railway, ports and pipelines for oil.  Present was the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Awang Yahya who’s also the Chairman of BIA.  Also present was the Indonesia’s Coordinator Minister for Economic, Mr. Boediono.

His Excellency Dato Laila Utama Doctor Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono later held a meeting with executives of the Royal Brunei Technical Services, RBTS.  The services would like to know what Indonesia has offered based on Brunei’s requirement.  Also present at the meeting was the RBTS Chief Executive, Awang Haji Mohamad Kamaruddin.

Subsequently, the President met with officials from the Brunei Economic Development Board, BEDB.  The Indonesian leader was briefed on the BEDB’s offering on opportunities and projects such as the Pulau Muara Besar and Sungai Liang Industrial Park projects.  Present were the BEDB’s Acting Chairman, Mr. Timothy Ong and the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hassan Wirajuda.

Meanwhile, the wife of the Indonesian President had a separate itinerary.  Datin Hajah Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, Tuesday morning went on a sightseeing tour of Brunei’s famous Kampong Ayer.  Datin Hajah Ani was accompanied by wife of the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Datin Hajah Masnah.

The Indonesian President and wife left the country Tuesday afternoon at the end of their two-day state visit to the sultanate.  Present at the Brunei International Airport to bid farewell were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna.

By command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that His Majesty has consented to the confirmation of post and appointment of two senior officers.

Awang Haji Kamis bin Haji Tamin, Director-General of Economic Planning and Development, and Acting Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, has been confirmed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Awang Haji Mohamed Nor bin Haji Jeludin, Director of Protocol and Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been appointed as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The confirmation and appointment will take effect as from today, Wednesday the 1st of Safar, 1427 corresponding to the 1st of March 2006.

Due to Bird Flu or Avian Influenza which hit several countries in the world and just recently Selangor in Malaysia, concerned authorities in Brunei Darussalam have stepped up appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the country.  The measures include tightening control on imports of livestock, birds and imported products from affected countries.

In a media release, the Agriculture Department said stricter inspections will also be enforced at all control posts with joint cooperation from law enforcement agencies like the Customs and Excise Department, Royal Brunei Police Force and the Health Ministry.  Sero-surveillance is also be implemented at commercial and private chicken farms as well as animals shops, and public zoos.  Samples of wild birds have also been taken for analysis and so far, Brunei Darussalam is still free from any infection of Avian Influenza.

Meanwhile the public is reminded that they should report, in case of any symptom of the disease or death to the Agriculture Department through telephone numbers 8984777 or 8985777 and for further details on the Bird Flue among humans, the public may contact Health line: 2381967.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Tuesday held a gathering to mark the New Year of 1427 Hijrah.  Present was the Minister, Retired Major-General Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad.  The function, held at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports off Jalan Kebangsaan, was highlighted with a religious talk delivered by Ustaz Haji Mohamad bin Garing.

Earlier, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Awang Haji Jemat bin Haji Ampal received more donations for the Pakistan Earthquake Relief Fund.  The Pertiwi Association contributed one thousand five hundred dollars and was handed over by its President, Datin Hajah Jusnani, while one thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars came from the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board, and was presented by its Acting Chairman, Awang Haji Nairul Anwar.

Until today the overall collection, not including through SMS, the relief fund has a total of more than 168 thousand, 580 dollars.

Filling stations’ entrepreneurs have been urged to give priority to locals in term of work opportunities to reduce the number of foreigners currently working at fuel filling stations. According to statistics, about 30 percent of workers at fuel filling stations are foreigners. The matter was raised by the Second Minister of Finance while officiating the new office of Brunei Darussalam’s Filling Station Owners’ and Entrepreneurs’ Association in Sengkurong, Tuesday.

Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brunei Shell Marketing Sendirian Berhad, BSM, further hoped that with the initiative of the new association’s building, it will help in opening up more work opportunities to citizens and residents in the country and at the same time could reduce unemployment in Brunei Darussalam.  The Pehin added filling station entrepreneurs should equip themselves with the latest knowledge and technology in order to upgrade efficiency and safety at filling stations for the benefit of all parties particularly their customers.

The association was established twenty-four years ago with its objective to combine filing stations owned by individuals, associations or cooperatives.  Currently, there are twenty-eight filling station owners throughout the country with about thirty-five thousand individual members under the association.  The association purchased the office unit with the cost of nearly two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

To be literate and educated requires one’s willingness and ability to constantly and continuously learn new things, keep aside old ones that are no longer relevant and re-learn to keep moving forward.   The Deputy Minister of Defence stressed the matter at the official launching of the Executive Development Programme for Senior Officers, Tuesday.

Retired Colonel Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yasmin said the need for continuing education and training has become imperative.  The Pehin reminded that it is equally important for senior officers to set good examples to children by instilling in them the culture of learning and make lifelong learning as a way of life.  It was the third such programme organised by the Ministry of Defence.  Eighteen senior officers from several ministries including eight from the Defence Ministry attend the three-month programme.

Family, spiritual, environmental and economic problems are among the current causes of the social problems in Brunei Darussalam.  The Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Haji Yakub was speaking at the opening of the National Seminar on Social Issues which carried a theme, “Handling Social Issues is Our Responsibilities”.  Dato Haji Yakub said that the setting up of the National Committee on Handling Social Issues by His Majesty’s Government is to identify and overcome the causes of the social issues by providing action plans in the field of education and rehabilitation.

The two-day seminar is attended by nearly three hundred participants comprising government officers and students.  Apart from gathering experts and intellectuals, information and knowledge on social issues, the seminar is also to find a new formula in handling the problems.

The National Carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines, RBA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint cooperation with PT Garuda Indonesia, GARUDA.  The signing was held at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club in Berakas.  RBA was represented by the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Pengiran Mohd. Yusof bin Pengiran Haji Jeludin while GARUDA was represented by the President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emirsyah Satar.

Present to witness the signing were RBA’s Chairman, Pengiran Dato Paduka Hj. Abd. Hamid, and RBA’s Board Member, Dato Paduka Hj. Abd. Kani bin Hj. Mohd. Salleh. The scopes of the joint cooperation include training, maintenance, information and distribution technologies, ground handling and catering.

Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad, BSP, and HSBC, Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-sponsor the LiveWIRE Business Plan Awards 2005/2006 and 2006/2007.  Signing on behalf of BSP was its Deputy Managing Director and Chairman of LiveWIRE Brunei, Awang Haji Zainal Abidin and HSBC was represented by the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Guy Priestly.  Present to witness the signing was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Dato Paduka Haji Mohamad Hamid.

Livewire Awards 2005-2006 has allocated a total of thirty thousand Brunei dollars in prizes to winning categories which include the business plan awards and business start-up award.  To date, there are more than 2 thousand participants since the LiveWIRE Brunei programmes were launched in 2001.