(Bandar Seri Begawan, 8th) In the closing remarks of the 21st Legislative Council’s second session, multiple legislators proposed that Bruneian youth should be provided with more space for development, enabling them to become an important force in driving national advancement, especially in the fields of entrepreneurship and employment.
Legislator Abdul Azis pointed out that a more inclusive and competitive business ecosystem should be created for youth, which not only helps reduce unemployment rates but also propels economic growth through promising new enterprises. He emphasized that if appropriately supported, emerging fields such as e-commerce, mobile applications and software development, creative industries, modern agriculture and agri-tech, agri-entrepreneurship, online education, and green businesses could become key pillars of the future economy.
“To confidently and sustainably advance the national development agenda, all stakeholders must work together to build an ecosystem that encourages innovation, resilience, and an entrepreneurial spirit,” he stated.
Abdul Azis also suggested providing welfare recipients with skills training, social enterprise programs, financial literacy education, life coaching, as well as an “assistance exit plan,” to guide them in stages toward independence from long-term reliance on aid. This aligns with the Brunei Social Blueprint’s goals of nurturing a resilient, future-oriented society.
In terms of public health, he called for the improvement of recreational sports infrastructure, such as establishing safer jogging tracks off main roads, increasing lighting, and encouraging community participation in maintenance; he also suggested that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Health jointly conduct national health campaigns and health education along exercise routes, to help the Ministry of Health achieve its goal of raising the national average life expectancy to 82 years by 2035.
Regarding tourism, he described it as an economic sector with immense potential and called on government agencies and local communities to strengthen collaboration to develop more locally distinctive and impactful tourism experiences. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on community tourism, digital innovation, cooperation with travel influencers, as well as integrating the voices of local projects such as “One Village, One Product” (1K1P). He also encouraged the Tourism Development Board to humbly listen to industry feedback in order to further expand and diversify the tourism sector.
“To confidently and sustainably advance the national development agenda, all stakeholders must work together to build an ecosystem that encourages innovation, resilience, and an entrepreneurial spirit,” he stated.
Abdul Azis also suggested providing welfare recipients with skills training, social enterprise programs, financial literacy education, life coaching, as well as an “assistance exit plan,” to guide them in stages toward independence from long-term reliance on aid. This aligns with the Brunei Social Blueprint’s goals of nurturing a resilient, future-oriented society.
In terms of public health, he called for the improvement of recreational sports infrastructure, such as establishing safer jogging tracks off main roads, increasing lighting, and encouraging community participation in maintenance; he also suggested that the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Health jointly conduct national health campaigns and health education along exercise routes, to help the Ministry of Health achieve its goal of raising the national average life expectancy to 82 years by 2035.
Regarding tourism, he described it as an economic sector with immense potential and called on government agencies and local communities to strengthen collaboration to develop more locally distinctive and impactful tourism experiences. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on community tourism, digital innovation, cooperation with travel influencers, as well as integrating the voices of local projects such as “One Village, One Product” (1K1P). He also encouraged the Tourism Development Board to humbly listen to industry feedback in order to further expand and diversify the tourism sector.