The Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS), Brunei Darussalam
organised a briefing at its premises for visitors from the Shanghai
Institute of International Studies, People’s Republic of China.
The visitors included directors and Professors from various departments
in the Shanghai Institute of International Studies such as the Office of
Research Management and International Exchanges, Department of
Asia-Pacific Studies, Department of European Studies, World Economy
Studies, Centre of Culture, Ethnic and Regional Studies and Department
of International Organisations and Laws.
Dr Haji Azaharaini bin Haji Mohd Jamil, Executive Director of CSPS,
shared with them pertinent information on the role and setup of CSPS
which was to help address inadequacies in comprehensive policy research
and provide alternative, professional and independent views on certain
issues and policies related to Brunei Darussalam.
He explained on the various researches conducted by CSPS, of which the
organisation would help to examine and analyse various policies and
issues of strategic interest and following that, disseminate researched
information to generate greater awareness of policy issues through
various means such as publication, dialogues, conferences, lectures,
closed-door discussions and briefings.
Briefing in session
The Chinese visitors with representatives from CSPS; Dr Azaharaini Jamil
(second from right, front row) and Gerald Han, (first from left, back
row).
The briefing was followed by a Questions and Answers session whereby
questions were raised on Brunei’s economic challenges and strategies in
creating effective policies for nation building. The Chinese visitors
shared their opinions on various issues of common interest to both
nations as well as expressed their gratitude to CSPS for the exchange of
information
Networking session between the visitors from the Shanghai Institute of
International Studies, People’s Republic of China with Dr Azaharaini
Jamil, Executive Director of CSPS.
News and Events
EVENT UPDATE:
ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ROUNDTABLE
4TH JUNE 2008 EMPIRE HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB
The Economic Diversification Roundtable which was jointly organised
on 4th June 2008 by The Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies and
Asia Inc Forum, and partnered by HSBC, Total and Alcoa, have
uncovered key findings and recommendations from two consultants; Mr.
Manu Bhaskaran from Centennial Asia Advisors Pte Ltd, Singapore and
Dr. Mark Crosby, Melbourne Business School, Australia.
The
roundtable brought together some 170 stakeholders, policymakers,
members of both the public and private sectors, together with
experts.
The
roundtable features a presentation by Chief Executive Officer of the
Brunei Economic Development Board, Mr. Vincent Cheong and
presentation by economist expert, Dr Mark Crosby and Mr. Manu
Bhaskaran who have conducted a study on Brunei’s Economic
Diversification Plans.
The
event kicked up with a luncheon talk by Vincent Cheong, CEO of
Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) who highlighted on the
challenges that were faced in developing a number of projects,
citing logistics, which is one of the key factors of implementation
Vincent Cheong also said that some of the
larger government projects are being divided into too many small
parts that are too insignificant to make a dent in the market and
"not massive enough to be commercially viable".
Roundtable panelists included Dato Paduka Timothy Ong, acting
chairman of BEDB; Pengiran Hjh Mariana PDNLDR Pengiran Hj Abdul
Momin, acting permanent secretary at the Ministry of Industry and
Primary Resources; Dr Roger Lawrey, deputy dean of Universiti Brunei
Darussalam; and Hj Shazali Dato Hj Sulaiman of the International
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
TWO experts who looked into the causes of the
slow pace in the diversification of Brunei's economy recommended
wide-ranging reforms to speed up the process. The recommendations
range from rationalising the bureaucracy, including reducing the
salaries and benefits of government employees, cutting red tape,
improving human resources, encouraging the youth to take up
entrepreneurship to improving infrastructure, building an enabling
business environment, strengthening the corporate sector and easing
the way for the entry of foreign investors.
The roundtable delved on the problems hampering
Brunei’s economic diversification progress. Both researchers had a
consensus in their findings; highlighting the problem of mindsets,
bureaucracy and public sector reform which include red tape,
expertise proportion in the public sector, salaries and benefit
reduction
Dato
Paduka Haji Mohd. Alimin delivering his opening speech.
Economic diversification has been a long standing policy for Brunei
Darussalam since it was introduced in the 3rd National Development
Plan of 1975 to 1979, where various efforts have been implemented by
the government towards this aim.The country
offers a sound, stable and secure economic climate to encourage
foreign direct investors as well as fuel, the growth of local Small
and Medium Entrepreneurs to expand locally and internationally.This was disclosed by Dato Paduka Haji Mohd. Alimin, the
Acting Chairman of Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies during
the Brunei Economic Diversification Roundtable 2008 with Asia Inc
Forum, Wednesday.
Dato
Paduka Haji Mohd. Alimin said the core areas of activities of the
centre are to research, primarily focusing on economic
diversification, social security, education and unemployment and
youth issues.
Moderator and commentators for the first session on Research
findings on Economic Diversification in Negara Brunei
Darussalam. Moderator was Fauziah Dato Talib, Member of the Board,
CSPS with commentators;
Dato Paduka Timothy Ong,Acting Chairman,
BEDB; Pg Hjh Mariana PDNLDR Pg Hj Abd Momin, Acting Permanent
Secretary, MIPR; Dr. Roger Lawrey, Deputy Dean, Universiti Brunei
Darussalam and Haji Shazali Dato Haji Sulaiman, Executive Secretary,
International Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
If
economic diversification is to improve, the state should be a
pro-active enabler, he said. Reforms in government should involve
change of mind set through application of appropriate incentive
structure and cultivation of a pro-economic growth attitude. He
added that the corporate sector should be strengthened through
enhanced accountability such as thorough audit of rules and
regulations as well as tax reforms.
Mr. Bhaskaran
believes the failure of Brunei in economic diversification is not
because of a lack of effort or poor governance. The key problem is
the enabling environment. He found that the environment is such that
it does not allow full and effective implementation of policy. The
contributing elements, he said, include lack of clarity of purpose,
bureaucratic hindrances at the middle/lower layers of bureaucracy,
less developed corporate sector, lack of scale and weak human
capital development; absence of adequate FDI outside the energy
sector; unexploited potential growth areas in the economy and high
cost structure.
Mr
Manu Bhaskaran making his point across during his
thought-evoking
presentation.
Dr Mark Crosby reinforcing the statements and
recommendations made by Mr Manu Bhaskaran. n summary, both researchers called for more
aggressive efforts to develop human capital to ensure a high
percentage of the work force entering tertiary or professional
fields and a developed entrepreneurship education to support
diversification efforts. They also emphasized the importance of
finding the balance between providing the necessary level of
government service provision, while allowing for an enlarged private
sector, both in terms of output produced and employment provided.
These changes will also require a restructuring of Brunei’s public
sector to avoid duplication and give greater accountability to
government departments and senior public servants.
Dr.
Crosby, on the hand argues that the issue is not a lack of
diversification, but rather a lack of market orientation and private
initiatives of which the solutions lie on a mindset change. He said
that public sector is too large and it is affecting the growth of
the private sector. He believes that Brunei’s wealth should be used
to encourage entrepreneurship and risk-taking, while providing a
strong safety net. Dr. Crosby had suggested various policy
recommendations i.e. the need to reform bureaucracy and public
sector which include red tape, expertise and experience proportion
in the public sector, as well as salaries and benefit reduction. He
also emphasized the importance of the human resource reform which
includes university expansion in both seats and the type of school
as well as young entrepreneur programmes, the development of the
private sector particularly SMEs and the development of
infrastructure for diversification. Dr. Crosby concluded his
presentation by emphasizing two keys to the Brunei Future
development, namely: a robust private sector and ongoing upgrading
of skills and attainment of knowledge through education and
training. These developments, he said, require significant
investments.
The second
session of the event was an open forum moderated by Mr.
Allen Lai, CEO of Asia Inc Forum with panellists Dato Paduka
Hj Hamdillah, Deputy Minister of Industry & Primary
Resources; Mr. Tareq Muhmood, CEO, HSBC Brunei and Mr. Manu
Bhaskaran, Centennial Asia Advisors Pte Ltd.
Closing
remarks were made by Dr Azaharaini Jamil, Executive Director of the
Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, who reminded everyone
present that based on the findings, it was hoped that the various
sectors can benefit from the wealth of enhanced information and
greater understanding of the issues and problems facing the country
today. He mentioned that the findings had also provided several
options for adaption and adoption to improve economic
diversification and that the question now was”Where do we go from
here?”.
CSPS will continue to look for gaps and develop knowledge through
research and disseminate the knowledge to address the gaps. Among
the gaps which have been identified by the two studies are the need
to study the development of SMEs and Human Resources. CSPS
encourages ministries and departments to identify knowledge gaps and
take advantage of the services CSPS provides and work together as a
strategic partner.
Dr
Azaharaini Jamil,
Executive Director of CSPS summed up that the Roundtable had been a
very fruitful and enlightening sharing session and urged everyone to
move on to making sure economic diversification can be sustained,
innovated and made achievement with certain measure of success. He
called upon individuals, as organizations, as stakeholders of the
economy and as citizens of this country to all come together come
together in concerted action, effort and mindset.
CSPS-UBD JOB SEEKERS SURVEY
Date : 19th February 2008
Kicking start the research project on Youth and Unemployment, the Centre has appointed a UBD team led by Dr. Diana Cheong and Dr. Roger Lawrey, to study the reasons for unemployment.
About 800 job seekers registered with the Labour Department gathered in a survey cum Meet-the-employers session, co-organised by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). The huge turnout of 800 at the event far exceeded the initial estimated of participants at the event.
The participants were provided with questionnaires aimed at collecting information on unemployment problems in Brunei. The largest group of jobseekers are Form 5 school-leavers with three 'O' Levels or less, and those in the 18-20 and 21-25 age groups. Participants filling in the survey form on their unemployment needs, attitudes and other issues pertaining to their career search.
Guest of Honour was Acting Commissioner of Labour, Hjh Rosliah Hj Hasbollah. In her speech, she suggested that the best way of promoting trust between employers and workers was by having an outlined job description and responsibilities of both employer and employee, as well as training for employees. Guest of Honour, Acting Commissioner of Labour, Hjh Rosliah Hj Hasbollah making her speech.
This was followed by a career talk by Ali Yusri Hj Abdul Ghafor, from the Ministry of Education where jobseekers were advised not to constantly depend on the public sector for employment, change their mindset and attitude, and prepare to work in the private sector. Ali Yusri Hj Abdul Ghafor, from the Ministry of Education, reiterating the importance of attitude change and mindset in order to the attentive participants.
Arrangements for walk-in interviews and candidate screening were made available for participants by 16 companies from the private sector, allowing job seekers to make enquiries and deposit their resumes directly. Participants exploring available job vacancies and entry requirements at the booth of a local company in the oil and gas industry. Some companies saw an overwhelming turnout at their booths as enthusiastic job seekers filled in application forms and submitted their resumes in the hope of securing an interview.
The event ended with an informal dialogue amongst participating companies who shared their concerns and opinions on the local employment market as well as the mindsets and quality of jobseekers in Brunei. The dialogue was moderated by CSPS and researchers from Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Employers sharing their constructive thoughts and feedback on the employment industry and their personal experiences with local job seekers.
Amongst issues raised were:
local workforce's preference for government jobs
comparison of salaries in the government vs private sector
employees treating private sectors as “temporary training ground” prior to joining the government sector.
attitude and mindset of job seekers who remained choosy despite being jobless
parental control and the “shielding” of job seekers until they find the “right” job
lack of education qualifications as majority of the jobless do not have the minimum 3 O’ Levels qualification
training provided to jobseekers and that many jobseekers leave the companies after undergoing training
