(Bandar Seri Begawan, 22nd) — In celebration of the 2025 World Statistics Day, the Ministry of Finance and Economy yesterday held a national dialogue at the ministry’s auditorium, focusing on the critical role of high-quality statistical data in achieving Brunei’s national development during the final decade of the 'Brunei Vision 2035' journey.
The dialogue was officiated by Dr. Hajah May Fa’ezah binti Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
World Statistics Day is an international event initiated by the United Nations and held globally every five years. Its aim is to enhance public awareness of the importance of reliable, timely statistical data in supporting evidence-based decision-making. This year, Brunei’s theme is “Pursuing Brunei Vision 2035 Goals with High-Quality Statistical Data”, reflecting Brunei’s steadfast commitment to strengthening its data ecosystem, accelerating socio-economic development, and achieving its long-term national objectives.
In her address, Dr. May Fa’ezah emphasized that high-quality, timely, and reliable statistical data are the key pillars guiding Brunei towards 'Brunei Vision 2035'.
She further highlighted that strengthening the national data ecosystem should focus on three core areas: first, improving the quality of administrative data through more effective coordination mechanisms; second, accelerating digital transformation and the application of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence; and third, enhancing data capability building at all levels of government.
She noted that these efforts are profoundly meaningful for ensuring the trustworthiness and relevance of statistical data, as well as promoting evidence-based decision-making, improving policy planning, and advancing national sustainable development.
She stated that, in order to achieve meaningful outcomes under the 'Brunei Vision 2035', our policies must be guided by reliable data. Strengthening administrative data, embracing digital innovation, and fostering a data-driven culture are crucial to ensuring our statistical data continues to support effective policy planning and national development.
In her welcoming remarks, Acting Director of the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Hajah Hedy Fa’ezah binti Haji Hashim, stated that this national dialogue echoes the national theme “Pursuing Brunei Vision 2035 Goals with High-Quality Statistical Data”, aiming to promote quality statistical data in support of the nation’s long-term development blueprint.
She pointed out that improving public statistical awareness is vital and emphasized the key role played by statistical personnel and data providers from various government agencies in building a robust and efficient national data ecosystem.
Hajah Hedy Fa’ezah added that the dialogue also aims to strengthen statistical communication and cooperation, encouraging officials not only to focus on data production, but also to work proactively with various stakeholders to ensure the insights derived from statistics are widely understood and effectively applied in national policy planning and in raising public awareness.
Guests attending the meeting included the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, as well as senior officials and key representatives from agencies such as Brunei Investment Agency, Brunei Central Bank, Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, and important figures from the private sector.
The event was conducted in the form of interactive group discussions, gathering perspectives from both data producers and data users. Representatives from the Department of Statistics, Brunei Central Bank, the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, the Department of Economic Planning, and the Department of Consumer Affairs engaged in in-depth exchanges on key national statistical topics such as gross domestic product, inflation, price monitoring, and labour market indicators, and discussed the important role of administrative data in supplementing statistical work.
The discussion emphasized that high-quality statistical data not only provides strong evidence for policies that affect the daily lives of citizens, but also plays an important role in supporting the country's monitoring of the 'Economic Blueprint' and progress under the 'Brunei Vision 2035' plan.
Panel members pointed out that capturing the development trends of emerging economic activities (such as the digital economy and informal economy) is crucial. Meanwhile, data privacy and confidentiality protections should be further strengthened, statistical systems should accelerate digital transformation, and artificial intelligence and data analytics should be leveraged to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of policy-making. Cross-agency collaboration should also be enhanced to ensure the consistency and alignment of national goals and data reporting standards.
The core message conveyed by the dialogue is that building high-quality statistical data is a shared responsibility, requiring joint effort, innovation, and public trust.
One panel member commented that behind every piece of statistical data lies the collective effort of institutions, systems, and individuals.
In closing, the meeting called on all stakeholders and citizens to actively participate in jointly building a resilient and trustworthy data ecosystem for the nation’s future.