THE United States Embassy in Brunei Darussalam announced in a press release yesterday that Abhar Munawar bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad had been chosen to participate in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP), which is the US State Department’s foremost professional exchange programme.
Abhar Munawar will join government officials, academics, and civil society leaders from countries across the Asia-Pacific, in a regional project focussed on the world’s oceans and the ‘Law of the Sea’, from April 18 to May 6.
This project will explore the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), and its applicability in both the Pacific Ocean and the Southeast Asian region.
Participants will analyse the history of current maritime issues in the region, and examine conflict resolutions and arbitration methods successfully used in international settlements.
The programme will take place in four cities across the United States: Washington DC, New York, Seattle and Honolulu.
Recently, Abhar Munawar met with Craig Allen, the US Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, who congratulated him on his selection to the programme.
Abhar Munawar bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad with Craig Allen, US Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam. – US EMBASSY
“For many years, the US Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan has been privileged to cultivate and strengthen relations between Brunei Darussalam and the United States through the IVLP. This programme offers exceptional opportunities to outstanding Bruneians who wish to develop their professional qualifications, while learning more about the United States of America and its people and policies,” the US Ambassador said.
Abhar Munawar said that he is looking forward to the programme. “Working and interacting with government officials and academics from the United States will not only allow me to build personal relationships, but also learn more about American culture from a local perspective,” he said.
The IVLP provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships between international participants and their American counterparts. Now in its 75th year, the IVLP is one of the US State Department’s most important exchange programmes, connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with the American people through short-term programmes to build mutual understanding on a wide range of issues.
Nearly 200,000 distinguished individuals have participated in the programme, including more than 335 current or former chiefs of state or heads of government, and thousands of leaders from both the public and private sectors.
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