MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS RETURNS FROM 7^TH APEC MINISTERIAL MEETING ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION INDUSTRY (APEC TELMIN 7)
BANGKOK, THAILAND

Bandar Seri Begawan: Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Communications arrived at the capital on Saturday, 26^th April 2008, after attending APEC 7^th Ministerial Meeting on Telecommunications and Information Industry (TELMIN7) which was held in Bangkok, Thailand from 23^rd – 25^th April 2008. 

Also joining The Honourable Minister were Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Mohammad Taha, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications as well as senior officials from Ministry of Communications and the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI). 

Carrying the theme “Digital Prosperity: Turning Challenge into Achievement", TELMIN 7 discussed important issues related to digital prosperity and security through plenary sessions and interactive dialogues. The issue of ICT Capacity Building was also highlighted during the Meeting whereby the Honourable Minister of Communications shared Brunei Darussalam’s initiatives and approaches on capacity building. 

TELMIN7 meeting also revisited the Brunei Goals and highlighted the remarkable progress made in the APEC region by individual member economies towards achieving the Brunei Goals of universal Internet access by 2010. 

APEC Ministers responsible for Telecommunications and Information Industry adopted the Bangkok Declaration which reaffirms the efforts and initiatives of APEC economies in relevant areas such as in promoting universal services, promoting a safe and trusted ICT environment as well as continuing the activities on ICT human capacity building. 

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS,

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM