The Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) launched its new Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030 (MTIC 2030) for the next five years during the Muhibah Meeting Session with Legislative Council members yesterday.

Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha officiated the launch.

The minister said, “With the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, I would like to introduce to the Honourable Members the new Strategic Plan of the MTIC for the next five-year period.”

The formulation of the MTIC 2030 Strategic Plan, he recalled, “was prepared by taking into account all achievements, challenges, and lessons learnt from the implementation of previous strategic plans. With this, MTIC has renewed its approach with more realistic goals, aimed at ensuring continued alignment with long-term objectives and targets as outlined in Brunei Vision 2035, the National Blueprints, as well as related Action Plans.”

The minister added, “MTIC 2030 incorporates input from various stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of the genuine issues and needs of the people and the nation. This Strategic Plan also takes into consideration the discussions, proposals, and insights shared by Honourable Members during previous sittings of the Legislative Council.”

The Minister also shared upcoming masterplan. In line with His Majesty’s Titah delivered in conjunction with His Majesty’s 79th Birthday Celebration on July 15, 2025, the MTIC has prepared the Brunei Digital Transformation Plan, which serves as a continuation and enhancement of the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025.

He explained, “This framework also represents an ongoing effort in digitalisation aimed at realising the aspiration of transforming Brunei Darussalam into a Smart Nation. Insya Allah, the Digital Transformation Plan will be launched in the near future.”

MTIC, he said, “is also in the process of formulating a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy in collaboration with Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS), following the signing of an agreement in May 2025 to develop Brunei Darussalam’s first National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategic Framework.”

Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary said, “The objective of this framework is to provide a clear strategic direction for the development of STI at the national level, including the identification of priorities and actions required to build a more structured, conducive, and competitive STI ecosystem. This strategy is also intended to strengthen the contribution of STI towards economic growth and the nation’s socio-economic development.”

(news source: Borneo Bulletin; pic source: Pelita Brunei)