BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The Brunei government is actively engaging with local authorities to assess future workforce requirements in line with industry competency needs.
Speaking at the Legislative Council meeting on Tuesday, Hajah Romaizah Haji Md Salleh, Brunei's minister of education, highlighted that the discussions aimed to ensure that the country's human capital development keeps pace with upcoming industrial projects.
The minister noted that workforce planning is particularly crucial for Phase 2 of the Hengyi Petrochemical Plant, which is scheduled to commence operations in 2029, alongside other emerging industrial requirements.
She added that during Phase 1 of the project, higher education institutions, including Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Teknologi Brunei and Politeknik Brunei, introduced 17 training programs covering both operational and construction phases.
Since 2018, a total of 2,092 Bruneian students have completed these programs, contributing directly to the petrochemical sector and strengthening the local talent pool.
Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, said Bruneians have also benefited from knowledge and technology transfer through foreign investments.
He highlighted that major foreign direct investment players such as Brunei Fertilizer Industries, Hengyi Industries and Barramundi Asia continue to provide skills training programs aimed at capacity development and preparing locals to eventually take over operations. ■
