Syazwani Hj Rosli
Entering the Bruneian market in 2005, Huawei contributed to Brunei Darussalam’s 3G and 4G Internet construction. Since its launch in April 2019 on jd.com, a well-known Chinese e-commerce platform, Brunei National Pavilion has been gradually increasing supplies of Bruneian marine products to Chinese consumers, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong said.
Ambassador Yu Hong shared this at the Huawei Brunei Seeds for the Future programme launch at the main Lecture Theatre 2 of the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) Extension Building of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.
“Last September, Beep, a local emerging Internet enterprise brought Alipay into the country for the first time. So far, over 100 Bruneian firms employed this new payment platform. In March, Chinese company Yidu Cloud arrived in the Sultanate one week after the first COVID-19 case was reported in the country. It contributed to the Brunei government’s efforts to set up an A1 data platform which functioned outstandingly in Brunei’s successful battle against COVID-19. During the epidemic, Huawei Brunei donated teleconference equipment and software to the Ministry of Health (MoH) for remote medical consultation,” she said.
The ambassador also expressed her hope for the students to not only become the seeds for the future technology progress, but also the seeds for the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Brunei.
“Huawei’s HQ team has continuously refined the course quality by focussing on industry-leading technologies and offers students the chance to work in a global environment and participate in numerous cultural exchanges. Let’s work together to sow the seeds of hope and create a brighter future for the ICT industry in Brunei,” said Huawei Brunei Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Zhang Jianwei.
Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh officiated along with the ambassador and CEO of Huawei Brunei.
Thirty-five Bruneian students from UBD, Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), Politeknik Brunei (PB), Insitute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), Micronet International College, Laksamana College of Business and Cosmopolitan College of Commerce and Technology are participating in the programme.
Proramme participants are exposed to Huawei’s cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), building and configuring their own stations as well as other cutting edge solutions. The programme is delivered through technology workshops and networking events at the Huawei headquarters in China.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Seeds for the Future will be conducted virtually with support from UBD. Participants are undergoing the five-day programme at the computer laboratories of UBD’s PAPRSB IHS Extension Building from September 21 until 25.
Following the launch, guests were invited to tour the Seeds Programme Session venue.
Participating student Nur A’ishah binti Haji Khairul Amir Shahrin, a second year Bachelor of Engineering majoring in General Engineering in UBD, shared her gratitude for the opportunity by providing them with industry knowledge and skills to complement their studies. She said she is looking forward to learning skills towards becoming Industrial Revolution 4.0-ready.
Mohammad Ammar Shafwan bin haji Abkri, a fourth year Bachelor of Science student, majoring in Computer Science in UBD, shared that he was grateful to Huawei for giving the students the opportunity and was excited to immerse himself in trending tech topics.
Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme launched in 2008. The programme aims to develop skilled, local information and communitcations technology (ICT) talent and bridge communication between countries and cultures. By sharing ICT expertise and experiences in the global business environment, young people from different countries can learn about advanced technologies in the ICT industry.
Participants can accumulate ICT expertise and skills through the programme and contribute to the global ICT industry progress.
UBD Vice-Chancellor Datin Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Rector Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, senior officials from the Ministry of Education (MoE), Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam and Huawei Technologies attended the launch.