Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Alhamdullilahi Rabbil `Alameen Wasaalatu Wassalaamu `Ala Asyrafil Ambiae Walmursaleen, Saidina Muhammadin Wa’alaa Aalihiee Wasahbihee Ajama’een

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, 

and a very good morning. 

• Yang Mulia Mohammad Harris bin Brigadier Jeneral (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry), Ministry of Finance and Economy; 

and Chairman of Progresif Sdn Bhd

• Yang Mulia Hajah Ros Ramona binti POKPS Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman

Deputy Chairlady of Progresif Sdn Bhd

• Yang Mulia Hajah Nurul Haniah binti Haji Jaafar

Chief Executive Officer of Progresif Sdn Bhd

• Her Excellency Miss Boosara Kanchanalai

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Royal Kingdom of Thailand

• His Excellency Dr Xiao Jianguo

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China

• Mr Shaun Goose

Deputy High Commissioner of Singapore

• Industry leaders and distinguished attendees,

It is my great pleasure to join everyone for today’s event; the Progresif Enterprise Showcase—Accelerate Business Horizons. This occasion exemplifies Brunei Darussalam’s strides towards fostering innovation, bolstering cybersecurity, and preparing for a future defined by digital transformation in the Enterprise space.

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we enter 2025, the world continues to drive forward digitalization and transformations across all industry sectors. This is also true in Brunei, where continuous efforts by stakeholders are ongoing to develop two key infrastructure projects in our digitalization journey. This includes the Digital Payment Hub that will support instant payment transfers between various payment providers, as well as a Digital Identity platform utilizing a blockchain architecture that will provide for secure self-sovereign identities as well as providing for eKYC services.

Moving forward, the team at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) is focused on developing plans for the next phase of our nation’s digitalization. Leveraging the infrastructure that that has already been implemented, our focus moving forward will be on continuing to drive real world practical transformation that can be felt and benefit by everyone across all sectors, including Smart Mobility, Smart Living, and Smart Environment among others. 

This includes exploration of new emerging technologies particularly with respect to Artificial Intelligence that has grown exponentially over the past year. As a new driving force behind digital transformation today, Artificial Intelligence platforms and tools have low barriers of entry in terms of its accessibility simply requiring an internet connection by end-users. This level of accessibility has accelerated AI adoption compared to previous digital transformation technologies and will no doubt be ubiquitous soon if not already. 

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However, as we adopt transformative technologies, we must also address the critical need for cybersecurity. It is essential we continue to develop our overall regulations and governance to ensure that everyone can continue to act in a safe, secure, and trusted environment. In line with this, the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI) is drafting AI Governance and Ethics Guidelines through a collaborative working group comprising government, industry, and academia stakeholders. Furthermore, the anticipated Personal Data Protection Legislation, currently in its final stages and will further strengthen our legal framework in this area. 

Equally important is ongoing education and awareness for all stakeholders in the technology ecosystem. This includes the public, users, clients and vendors that must be made aware of potential dangers when it comes the deployment and use of these technologies. More importantly we need to come together to address these challenges as an industry. 

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Therefore, I would like to congratulate Progresif for providing today's platform that not only introduces multinational services to our local ecosystem but also highlights the importance of collaboration with international leaders in technology and cybersecurity, creating opportunities for our nation to learn, grow, and thrive in this digital age.

This platform is more than just a showcase of solutions, business cooperation and networking—it can also act as a knowledge hub, where innovation and expertise converge. By facilitating the transfer of knowledge to local talent, Progresif ensures that these advancements contribute not only to immediate business needs but also to the long-term development of our local workforce. 

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I am particularly pleased to note Progresif’s introduction of Security Operations Centre (SOC) services today together with ST Engineering of Singapore. The implementation of these services will significantly enhance the security of local businesses, particularly Critical Information Infrastructure owners.

Cybersecurity, in this regard, is not merely a defense mechanism; it is an enabler of trust and innovation. With secure digital platforms, businesses can experiment, expand, and succeed. Events like today not only highlights the technologies that will propel us forward but also foster a mindset of resilience and progress.

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Furthermore, Progresif’s collaborations with global leaders such as Huawei, Microsoft, Alibaba Cloud, and ST Engineering, local professionals are gaining exposure to cutting-edge technologies and practice. This effort empowers local businesses, particularly MSMEs, to embrace innovation confidently. By adopting solutions such as cloud technologies, IoT systems, and unified communications, these businesses can enhance productivity, scale operations, and contribute to Brunei’s economic diversification goals. I hope that as an industry, all players can continue to drive these kinds of innovations and guide all sectors through their respective Digital Transformation journeys as they continue to grow to new heights. 

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In closing, I would like to once again commend Progresif for its leadership in creating this platform and for its commitment to driving innovation, enhancing cybersecurity, and empowering local talent. 

Let us continue to use such platforms to strengthen our digital capabilities and inspire innovation as we continue ensuring a safe environment in our ongoing Digital Transformation Journey.

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With the kalimah Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I officially launch the Progresif Enterprise Showcase: Accelerate Business Horizons. May this event create opportunities for future collaborations and serves as a platform towards a more secure Digital Brunei.